Devendra Fadnavis makes historic return as Maharashtra CM after BJP’s landslide victory in 2024 elections

Maharashtra News: On Thursday, Devendra Fadnavis took the oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra in a ceremony held at Mumbai's Azad Maidan. The event was graced by top political figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, alongside several Chief Ministers from other states.

The star-studded ceremony also saw the presence of renowned personalities from various fields, including cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and Bollywood icons Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Ranveer Singh, and Madhuri Dixit.

A Strong Political Journey

Fadnavis, born on July 22, 1970, in Nagpur, comes from a middle-class background. Holding a graduate degree in law and postgraduate credentials in business management, he has made significant strides in Maharashtra’s political landscape. His career began in 1992 when he was elected as a councillor in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation, marking the start of his two consecutive terms. Later, he was elected as an MLA for five terms.

A Historic Political Milestone

From 2014 to 2019, Fadnavis served as Maharashtra's Chief Minister, making history as the state's second-youngest CM after Sharad Pawar. He was known for his leadership in multiple high-profile initiatives, such as the Samruddhi Expressway, the Mumbai Next project, the Police Digitisation Project, and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Krishi Sanman Scheme.

Though his tenure was briefly interrupted by the 2019 Maharashtra political crisis, Fadnavis' return to the CM post follows a resounding victory by the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly Elections. The BJP won 132 seats, leading the coalition to a dominant total of 235 seats, while the Shiv Sena and NCP garnered 57 and 41 seats, respectively.

In contrast, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance faced a major setback, with Congress securing just 16 seats and Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) winning 20 and 10 seats. Fadnavis’ return marks a new chapter in Maharashtra politics, further solidifying BJP’s grip on power in the state following their landmark electoral win.