Maharashtra's Revenue Minister, Chandrashekhar Bawankule, declared on Sunday that the upcoming civic body elections in the state will be contested on the plank of development and not swayed by emotional appeals. Speaking to the press in Nagpur, the senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader exuded confidence that voters would back the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance for a 'developed Maharashtra'.
Fadnavis's Statewide Blitz as Star Campaigner
Bawankule positioned Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as the alliance's star campaigner, whose aggressive statewide tour would prove decisive. He revealed that the CM himself would campaign across all 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra. In major urban centres like Mumbai, Pune, and Pimpri-Chinchwad, Fadnavis's outreach programme is set to include talk shows, interactive discussions, and media interviews.
The minister asserted that this extensive public connect initiative by the Chief Minister would help the Mahayuti secure a clear mandate in the crucial municipal polls. He emphasised that the electorate would endorse Fadnavis's vision for a developed state.
Organisational Cohesion and Alliance Unity
Detailing his own role, Bawankule stated that despite being the state-in-charge, he is working as a coordinator for both the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions to ensure organisational cohesion during the election period. He pledged to continue his extensive tours of these areas, along with Pune, Nashik, and Dhule.
Addressing internal criticism, specifically from Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Bawankule referred to a coordination committee decision where alliance partners agreed to avoid attacking each other. He downplayed the impact of any statements that deviated from this understanding, claiming they would not affect the Mahayuti's unity.
Targeting Opponents and Stressing Core Ideology
Bawankule took aim at the Thackeray faction's manifesto, suggesting that voters would not be influenced by multiple manifestos or sharp criticism. "This election is not emotional; it will be fought on development," he reiterated.
He further claimed that the public would support the Shiv Sena led by Deputy CM Eknath Shinde and stand with those following the ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray. In a swipe at Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, Bawankule dismissed baseless statements as irrelevant.
He affirmed that the BJP-led Mahayuti would remain united until 2047 on the twin pillars of Hindutva and development. On the topic of Mumbai's coastal road project, the minister credited the development works to the leadership of Devendra Fadnavis and claimed that Uddhav Thackeray had no role in these projects.
