MVA claims Fadnavis offered resignation as Sena-NCP have become 'liability' for BJP

Devendra Fadnavis/ File Photo

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in Maharashtra claimed on Wednesday that the Shiv Sena-NCP alliance has become a 'burden' for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), leading Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to quit.

MVA leaders, including Congress' Atul Londhe, Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Sushma Andhare, and NCP (SP)'s Mahesh Tapase, chastised Fadnavis for accepting moral responsibility for the MahaYuti's dismal performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, reported IANS.

According to the report, Londhe pointed out that the MahaYuti failed to gain 45-plus of Maharashtra's 48 Lok Sabha seats, undermining the BJP's national objective of 400-plus seats. He claimed that Fadnavis' resignation offer was an attempt to anticipate any proceedings against him by the BJP's national leadership.

"This is a drama to hide his lack-lustre performance. Fadnavis has realised that the party has failed in the state and the resignation is to pre-empt any action against him by the BJP central leadership," said Londhe, Congress' state chief spokesperson.

Andhare claimed that Fadnavis is striving to redeem himself following the party's huge defeats, particularly with the impending Assembly elections. "It has dawned on Fadnavis that after the Lok Sabha reverses, there is no way that he can ever hope to return as the CM in the future, so he has made the offer to quit his post. However, the party will consider other leaders for the top post," stated Andhare, SS (UBT) leader, per an IANS report.

Per the IANS report, Tapase stated that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar had become a burden for the BJP, failing to contribute to the party's vote share. "By the moves to quit as Deputy CM, Fadnavis is trying to remove the foundations of the MahaYuti regime. Fadnavis knows that if he steps out, the state government will collapse, and he can shift the blame onto Shinde-Pawar for the poll fallout," stated Tapase, Chief Spokesperson of the NCP (SP).

Earlier on Wednesday, Fadnavis voiced his desire to be released from his government duties so that he could focus on party building ahead of the Assembly elections. However, BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule indicated that Fadnavis may continue to work for the party while staying Deputy Chief Minister, the report added.

Fadnavis' surprising declaration came after the MahaYuti won only 17 seats, compared to the MVA's 30 wins, and an Independent candidate in Sangli is anticipated to back the Congress.