Fadnavis will go to Delhi, Bawankule will take over as Maha CM, says Sanjay Raut

Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP and chief Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut said here on Saturday that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is likely to move to the Union Cabinet in New Delhi as a cabinet minister and BJP’s state Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule is likely to take over as the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

“There is a strong possibility that Fadnavis will be given the finance portfolio in the central government. If Fadnavis goes to the centre, Maharashtra will be headed by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule as Chief Minister. Eknath Shinde will never be able to become the Chief Minister again,” Sanjay Raut said at a press conference here.

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“If Fadnavis goes to Centre, I am 100 per cent certain that he will recommend Bawankule’s name as next Maharashtra Chief Minister. I see Bawankule as the right leader in Vidarbha. I have always seen Chandrashekhar Bawankule as the right leader for the post of Chief Minister after Devendra Fadnavis. Bawankule communicates with everybody and takes care of everyone. Girish Mahajan’s record is very bad, and hence he does not stand any chance,” Sanjay Raut said.

Significantly, it may be recalled that Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena MLA Aaditya Thackeray had told media persons here on July 2, Thursday, that Devendra Fadnavis will cease to be the Chief Minister of Maharashtra shortly and will be accommodated in the Union Cabinet, adding that Deputy CM Eknath Shinde may attempt to return as Maharashtra Chief Minister once again.

“This will be the last legislative session with Devendra Fadnavis as Chief Minister. Mark my words. The current political situation in Maharashtra will not last forever,” Aaditya Thackeray told media persons on July 2, Thursday.

Interacting with media persons here on Saturday, Sanjay Raut said, “There are ongoing discussions that Fadnavis will go to the Centre. We will be happy if Fadnavis becomes the Prime Minister of India before 2029. As a Marathi man, I wish him well. Uddhav Thackeray has also wished him well. In any case, the BJP is unlikely to come to power in Maharashtra after 2029. So Fadnavis should do whatever he wants to do before 2029”.

Meanwhile, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) Bachchu Kadu said in Nagpur, “Devabhau (Fadnavis) should go to Delhi and make the dreams of the country come true, following which Eknath Shinde should lead the state”.

“Everybody in Maharashtra wants a leader from Maharashtra to lead the country. There was a time when the entire country was ruled by Marathas. Similarly, everyone expects Devendra Fadnavis to go to Delhi and fulfil the country’s dreams. If Fadnavis goes to Delhi, the leadership of the state must be handed over to Eknath Shinde. The BJP returned to power in Maharashtra only because Eknath Shinde rebelled and split the Shiv Sena. Therefore, if Devendra Fadnavis goes to Delhi, purely on the basis of morality, Eknath Shinde should get to lead the state as Chief Minister, regardless of the numbers,” Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena MLC Bachchu Kadu said.

Commenting on Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut’s statement that Eknath Shinde will never get to be Chief Minister of Maharashtra again, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena MLC Bachchu Kadu said, “Sanjay Raut’s predictions have never come true at any time. Which astrologer did he approach? We don’t know which astrologer Sanjay Raut consulted, but whatever he said makes no sense”.

“Devabhau (Fadnavis) should definitely prepare to go to Delhi and take charge of the country. I definitely think that Eknath Shinde should lead Maharashtra as Chief Minister,” Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena MLC Bachchu Kadu said.