Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has offered to resign from his post, taking responsibility for the BJP’s disappointing performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP managed to secure only nine seats in Maharashtra, including Nagpur, Mumbai North, Satara, Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg, and Palghar.
Addressing reporters, Fadnavis expressed his desire to focus on party organization and requested the BJP high command to relieve him from his state government duties. This, he said, would allow him to dedicate himself to preparing for the upcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra.
“I take responsibility for the results in Maharashtra. I was leading the party here. I request the BJP high command to relieve me from government duties so I can work hard for the party in the upcoming elections,” Fadnavis stated. He emphasized his commitment to addressing any shortcomings and assured that he is “not a person who will run away.”
Fadnavis highlighted that despite the BJP securing only nine seats, the vote share between the BJP and the MVA (Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi) was nearly identical. He pointed out that while the MVA secured 30 seats, they received 2.5 lakh votes, compared to the BJP’s 2.48 lakh votes.
In Mumbai, although the BJP won only two seats, Fadnavis noted that the party received 2 lakh more votes in total. He mentioned that the margins in many seats were very narrow, indicating competitive races.
Nationally, the NDA alliance won 292 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, while the INDIA bloc secured 234 seats. Within the NDA, the BJP alone won 240 seats, bolstered by the strong performance of allies like JD(U) and TDP. On the other hand, the INDIA bloc, with Congress winning 99 seats, benefited from the support of allies such as the Samajwadi Party, TMC, and DMK.
Fadnavis concluded by assuring that the BJP would soon return to the public with a renewed strategy for Maharashtra, aiming to rebuild and strengthen the party’s position in the state.