Will Brahmin Fadnavis Lose CM race to himself, not Shinde? A Political Analysis of Maharashtra
Devendra Fadnavis, the Brahmin leader, now stands at the crossroads of regaining his lost Chief Minister chair in 2024 in the intense political drama of Maharashtra. The man who was once the Chief Minister of Maharashtra played a pivotal role as a Brahmin leader in BJP's stellar victory in the recent assembly polls. However, he remains the crucial point in the success of BJP-led Mahayuti, which answers one question: will Fadnavis be made CM, or will the man lose to himself based on the play of political and caste politics?
Fadnavis, who served as the Deputy CM under Eknath Shinde for over two years, now finds himself as the frontrunner for the CM position in the wake of BJP’s impressive win. The BJP secured 133 of Mahayuti’s 234 seats in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, positioning Fadnavis as the natural choice. However, the coalition dynamics of the BJP, Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP could complicate his rise to the top.
One key influence in the outcome could be the Maratha community, which wields strong political and economic power in Maharashtra. Through history, Maratha leaders have dominated the CM post, and Brahmin leaders such as Fadnavis are naturally opposed because of caste dynamics. Fadnavis' tenure as CM in 2014 sparked anxiety within some sections of the Maratha community, resulting in mobilizations against his leadership, branding him "anti-Maratha."
Despite these challenges, Fadnavis has faced the test of fire, managing even to navigate through the Maratha quota issue in 2016 and led the BJP to a clear victory. Once again, in the 2024 elections, Maharashtrians from all castes came behind the BJP and its Mahayuti partners, representing broad support for Fadnavis.
With Eknath Shinde emerging at the forefront, many political observers wonder whether the Brahmin leader will once again face the same internal hurdles. Rajdeep Sardesai of India Today noted Fadnavis as the frontrunner for the CM seat, but the caste-based political realities may remain his biggest obstacle.
Devendra Fadnavis, of course, cannot be denied a significant role in the success of Mahayuti. The face of the coalition is Shinde, but it was Fadnavis's leadership and planning that ensured a landslide victory for the alliance in Maharashtra. But as the political drama unfolds in this saga, the big question remains: Will Fadnavis, even with his acumen, lose the CM race to himself because of the complex caste dynamics and coalition pressures?
