Devendra Fadnavis
Devendra Gangadharrao Fadnavis (born 22 July 1970) is an Indian politician and a prominent leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) serving as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra since December 2024.[1][2] Born in Nagpur to a family with longstanding ties to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Fadnavis entered politics at a young age, becoming the youngest municipal councillor in Nagpur at 21 and later the city's youngest mayor.[3][4] His first tenure as Chief Minister from 2014 to 2019 marked the first full five-year term completed by a BJP leader in Maharashtra's history, during which he prioritized infrastructure development, including the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg expressway, and water conservation efforts through the Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan to mitigate drought-prone areas.[5][6] After a brief interim stint in 2019 and roles as Deputy Chief Minister, Fadnavis returned as Chief Minister following the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance's victory in the 2024 assembly elections, focusing on sustained economic growth and governance transparency, such as strengthening anti-corruption mechanisms.[7][8] Fadnavis's career has been characterized by strategic alliance-building and data-driven campaigning that expanded BJP's base in the state, though it has encountered political volatility, including opposition allegations regarding law and order amid rising urban crime rates.[9][10]
Early Life and Education
Family Background and Upbringing
Devendra Fadnavis was born on July 22, 1970, in Nagpur, Maharashtra, into a Marathi Brahmin Hindu family with deep roots in political and ideological activism.[11] [12] His father, Gangadharrao Fadnavis, served as a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council from Nagpur under the Jana Sangh banner, the precursor to the Bharatiya Janata Party, and was an RSS pracharak dedicated to organizational work.[13] [11] His mother, Sarita Fadnavis, engaged in social work and later directed the Vidarbha Housing Credit Society, contributing to community development efforts in the region.[14] [15] Raised in a middle-class household in Nagpur, Fadnavis grew up amid his parents' commitment to ideological and public service principles, which shaped his early worldview.[1] His father's passing in 1987 marked a pivotal moment, accelerating Fadnavis's immersion in family-linked political networks and RSS-affiliated activities during his formative years.[16] He has an elder brother, Ashish Fadnavis, reflecting a close-knit family structure that emphasized discipline and civic engagement over material pursuits.[17] This environment in Nagpur, a hub for RSS operations, fostered his initial exposure to grassroots organizational dynamics rather than elite privilege.[13]Academic and Formative Influences
Fadnavis completed his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the Government Law College, affiliated with Nagpur University, in 1992.[18] [19] He subsequently pursued a postgraduate degree in Business Management and obtained a diploma in Methods and Techniques of Project Management, providing him with a foundation in legal principles, administrative strategy, and operational efficiency that informed his governance approach.[1] [20] His formative years were shaped by his upbringing in Nagpur, the ideological headquarters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), where his family maintained strong ties to the organization and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).[21] Fadnavis's father, Gangadharrao Fadnavis, served as a BJP MLA in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from 1985 to 1990, exposing him from an early age to grassroots political mobilization and Hindu nationalist principles.[22] This paternal influence sparked his interest in politics during school, steering him toward student activism rather than purely academic pursuits.[16] During his university years, Fadnavis engaged actively with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the RSS's student affiliate, which reinforced his commitment to disciplined organizational work and ideological discipline over individualistic endeavors.[8] These experiences, combined with Nagpur's RSS-centric environment, cultivated a pragmatic, cadre-based worldview that emphasized long-term institutional building and data-driven decision-making, traits evident in his later roles.[23]Early Political Career
Entry into BJP Youth Wing
Devendra Fadnavis began his involvement with the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) youth wing, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), in 1989, shortly after joining the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) as a student activist following his father's death in 1987.[7][18] His initial role was as ward convenor in Nagpur, marking his grassroots entry into organized BJP youth activities amid the party's expansion in Maharashtra during the late 1980s Ram Janmabhoomi movement.[1] In 1990, Fadnavis advanced to office bearer for the Nagpur West unit of the BJYM, focusing on mobilizing young supporters through local campaigns and ideological outreach rooted in Hindutva principles.[18] By 1992, at age 22, he was elected president of the Nagpur city BJYM, a position that amplified his visibility within the organization and facilitated coordination of youth protests against perceived anti-Hindu policies of the ruling Congress government.[1][24] This rapid ascent reflected his early organizational skills and alignment with BJP's cadre-based structure, though independent verification of membership rosters from that era remains limited to party records.[25] Fadnavis's BJYM tenure emphasized voter outreach among urban youth, including door-to-door canvassing and student mobilization, contributing to BJP's growing foothold in Nagpur, a traditional RSS stronghold.[26] These efforts laid the groundwork for his subsequent electoral debut as a corporator in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation later in 1992, transitioning from youth wing activism to formal political office.[27]Rise to Local Leadership Positions
Fadnavis entered local governance in 1992 when, at the age of 22, he was elected as a councillor to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), representing the BJP; he secured re-election for a second consecutive term in 1997.[7][1] During this period, he focused on grassroots organizational work within the BJP's Nagpur unit, building on his prior role as a local office bearer and publicity head for the party in the Nagpur West assembly constituency since 1990.[27] In 1997, Fadnavis ascended to the mayoral position in Nagpur, becoming India's second-youngest elected mayor at age 27, a role he held until 1999.[28][29] As mayor, he emphasized urban development initiatives aligned with BJP priorities, including infrastructure improvements in the city, which served as an RSS stronghold and BJP's early base in Maharashtra.[27] This tenure solidified his reputation as a rising local leader, leveraging his ABVP background to mobilize youth support and expand the party's influence in municipal politics.[29] Parallel to his elected roles, Fadnavis advanced in the BJP's internal hierarchy, progressing from ward convener to key organizational posts in Nagpur, which enhanced his control over local party machinery and candidate selections.[1] By the late 1990s, these positions positioned him as a bridge between the party's youth and municipal wings, contributing to BJP's growing dominance in Nagpur's civic affairs amid competition from Congress-led alliances.[30]First Term as Chief Minister (2014-2019)
Government Formation and Coalition Challenges
In the 2014 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections held on 15 October, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 122 seats in the 288-member house, falling short of the 145-seat majority but positioning itself as the single largest party, ahead of Shiv Sena's 63 seats, Congress's 42, and the Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP) 41.[31] The pre-election breakdown of the longstanding BJP-Shiv Sena alliance stemmed from a seat-sharing impasse, specifically a disagreement over four assembly constituencies that prompted Shiv Sena to contest independently while still aligning ideologically against the Congress-NCP combine.[32][33] Post-poll, Fadnavis, as the BJP's legislative party leader, submitted letters of support from 10 independent and smaller party MLAs to Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao on 23 October, but this fell short of a majority, leading to a brief imposition of President's Rule on 26 October. Shiv Sena, after initially exploring options with rivals and demanding the chief ministership for Uddhav Thackeray, extended unconditional external support to the BJP on 28 October without joining the cabinet, citing shared Hindutva goals but extracting commitments on policy consultations. This enabled Fadnavis to be sworn in as chief minister on 31 October at a ceremony in Mumbai, heading a minority BJP cabinet comprising 21 ministers and forgoing a deputy chief minister post for Shiv Sena.[33] Shiv Sena formally integrated into the coalition on 5 December 2014 during the cabinet's first expansion, securing 10 ministerial berths including key portfolios like urban development for Eknath Shinde, though negotiations revealed underlying frictions over power distribution and Shiv Sena's insistence on equal say in governance.[34] Throughout Fadnavis's first term, coalition dynamics were marked by recurrent tensions, including Shiv Sena's public critiques of BJP-led policies on drought relief and farm loans, its occasional alliances with opposition parties in local bodies like the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, and threats to withdraw support—such as in 2016 amid portfolio reshuffles—necessitating constant mediation to avert collapse. These strains, rooted in Shiv Sena's regionalist assertiveness clashing with BJP's centralized decision-making, slowed policy execution, with Fadnavis later stating in 2020 that the government could have advanced more rapidly without the alliance's "tug-of-war" dynamics.[35][36]Economic and Infrastructure Reforms
During his first term as Chief Minister from 2014 to 2019, Devendra Fadnavis emphasized economic growth through attracting foreign direct investment and improving the business environment. Maharashtra received ₹3,62,161 crore in FDI during this period, accounting for a significant share of India's total inflows and positioning the state as the top recipient.[37][38] Initiatives under his administration included reforms to enhance ease of doing business, such as streamlined approvals and single-window systems via platforms like MAITRI, which facilitated quicker permissions for investors.[39] The state's gross state domestic product expanded from ₹11.97 lakh crore in FY 2013-14 to higher levels by FY 2019-20, reflecting an annualized growth rate of approximately 16.4%, though annual variations occurred, including a dip to 7.3% in 2017-18 amid national economic trends.[40][41] Fadnavis prioritized infrastructure development to support industrialization and urban mobility, establishing a dedicated "war room" in 2015 to monitor and accelerate key projects.[42][43] This mechanism targeted initiatives like the expansion of the Mumbai Metro network, where progress exceeded the prior government's achievement of just 10 km over eight years, with multiple lines advancing under Japanese funding and political resolve.[44][45] Major projects launched or fast-tracked included the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg, a 701 km expressway aimed at reducing travel time to eight hours; the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor, with a memorandum of understanding signed in 2015; and urban links such as the Mumbai Coastal Road and Trans Harbour Link.[46][45] Power sector enhancements, including expansions at stations like Koradi, contributed to increasing Maharashtra's installed capacity. These efforts aligned with a broader vision of "Minimum Government, Maximum Governance," focusing on efficient execution to drive long-term economic productivity.[47]Social and Security Policies
During his first term, Fadnavis established India's first dedicated Ministry of Other Backward Classes (OBC) Welfare to address the specific developmental needs of OBC communities, including new schemes for employment generation and Rs 500 crore funding for the OBC Mahamandal to create job opportunities.[48][49] This move aimed to institutionalize targeted welfare, separate from general social justice departments, amid demands for enhanced reservations and economic upliftment.[50] Fadnavis introduced a 1% reservation quota for orphans in education and government jobs, providing affirmative action to level the playing field for this vulnerable group without broader caste-based expansions.[51] In 2017, he launched the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Krishi Sanman Yojana, Maharashtra's first comprehensive farm loan waiver scheme, waiving loans up to Rs 1 lakh for small and marginal farmers to alleviate agrarian distress following drought years.[51][52] For women's welfare, the Asmita Yojana was rolled out in 2018 to supply affordable sanitary pads through self-help groups, promoting menstrual hygiene in rural and urban areas, while efforts to empower women self-help groups included financial linkages and skill training programs.[53][54] On security, the government enacted the Maharashtra Police (Amendment and Continuance) Act in 2014 to incorporate Supreme Court directives on police reforms, including provisions for fixed tenures for officers and reducing political interference in transfers and postings, though implementation faced challenges like delays in compliance.[55][56] To enhance urban surveillance and law enforcement, over 6,000 CCTV cameras were installed across cities including Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur by 2019, focusing on crime prevention and women's safety in public spaces.[57][58] These measures contributed to reported improvements in conviction rates, despite ongoing opposition criticisms of rising crimes against women, which Fadnavis attributed partly to better reporting mechanisms rather than systemic failures.[59][60]Criticisms and Internal Conflicts
Fadnavis's first term was marked by persistent tensions within the BJP-Shiv Sena coalition, formed as a post-poll alliance in December 2014 after initial pre-poll negotiations collapsed over disputes regarding seat-sharing in four assembly constituencies.[32] [61] Shiv Sena leaders frequently expressed dissatisfaction with portfolio allocations and policy decisions, leading to public spats; for instance, in early 2018, Shiv Sena condemned the Fadnavis government's handling of the Bhima Koregaon violence, accusing it of inadequate response despite a judicial inquiry being ordered.[62] These frictions culminated in Shiv Sena's threats to withdraw support multiple times, though the alliance held until the 2019 elections, reflecting underlying ideological and power-sharing strains between the BJP's centralizing tendencies and Shiv Sena's regional assertiveness.[63] The government's response to agrarian distress drew sharp criticism from opposition parties and farmer groups, particularly amid recurrent droughts affecting over 21,000 villages by 2016.[64] In March 2018, approximately 40,000 farmers from the Shetkari Sanghatana marched over 180 kilometers to Mumbai, demanding complete loan waivers, drought compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre for unirrigated land and Rs 1 lakh for irrigated land, and better crop prices; the protest concluded after Fadnavis provided written assurances for a Rs 2 lakh farm loan waiver, though implementation faced delays and accusations of insufficiency.[65] [66] Farmer suicides in Maharashtra reportedly nearly doubled from 2,474 in 2014 to 4,398 by 2017, with critics attributing this partly to unfulfilled irrigation promises despite Fadnavis's flagship Jalyukt Shivar scheme aiming to make 5,700 villages drought-free by 2019, though independent assessments highlighted persistent water scarcity as a major causal factor exacerbated by climatic conditions.[67] Opposition figures like Sharad Pawar claimed the administration ignored rural plight, prioritizing urban infrastructure.[68] The January 1, 2018, violence near Bhima Koregaon, where clashes between Dalit protesters commemorating a 1818 battle and Hindu nationalist groups resulted in one death and dozens injured, intensified scrutiny of law enforcement under Fadnavis.[69] Dalit activists, including Prakash Ambedkar, accused the government of shielding perpetrators like Sambhaji Bhide, issuing an eight-day ultimatum for arrests after initial delays, with only Milind Ekbote detained promptly.[70] Fadnavis described the incident as a "conspiracy" to fracture Dalit-BJP ties ahead of elections, ordering a special investigation team and a judicial commission under Justice J.N. Patel, but critics alleged intelligence failures and selective prosecutions, including later arrests of activists on Maoist links that human rights groups contested as overreach.[71] [72] In March 2018, the government announced withdrawal of cases against some bandh participants but vowed recovery of damages, amid ongoing debates over the inquiry's terms of reference.[73]Intermediary Political Roles (2019-2024)
Leader of Opposition (2019-2022)
Following the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government on December 28, 2019, with Uddhav Thackeray as Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis was appointed Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislature party on December 1, 2019.[74] [75] In this role, Fadnavis led the BJP's opposition efforts in the 288-member assembly, where the party held 105 seats, focusing on holding the coalition government—comprising Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and Indian National Congress—accountable on governance and policy matters.[74] As Leader of the Opposition, Fadnavis frequently intervened in assembly debates and public discourse to criticize the MVA administration's handling of key issues, including law and order, economic policies, and the COVID-19 pandemic. In April 2021, he accused the government of replacing "lokshahi" (democracy) with "lock-shahi" (lockdown rule), pointing to alleged overreach in pandemic restrictions and disruptions to democratic processes.[76] He raised concerns over delays in infrastructure projects like the Mumbai Metro, rising crime rates, and the halt in police encounters against criminals, which had been a feature of his prior tenure as Chief Minister.[77] Fadnavis also supported the central government's farm laws in 2020-2021, contrasting them with the state government's opposition, and demanded probes into alleged irregularities in COVID-19 procurement and relief distribution. In early 2022, amid escalating political tensions, Fadnavis alleged government malice in issuing notices related to a phone-tapping case, claiming it was an attempt to intimidate opposition leaders.[78] His tenure as Leader of the Opposition, lasting until June 2022, involved coordinating BJP's strategy to highlight MVA's policy shortcomings, such as uneven pandemic response and fiscal mismanagement, while maintaining pressure through assembly adjournments and public campaigns. This period positioned Fadnavis as a central figure in BJP's efforts to regain power, culminating in the 2022 political crisis triggered by Shiv Sena dissidence.[78]Role in 2022 Political Crisis and Deputy Chief Ministership (2022-2024)
In June 2022, Maharashtra faced a political crisis triggered by the rebellion of Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and over 40 MLAs against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's government, which they accused of deviating from the party's Hindutva ideology through its alliance with the Indian National Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).[79] As the Leader of the Opposition, Devendra Fadnavis played a pivotal role in supporting Shinde's faction, which claimed majority support within Shiv Sena, and negotiated with BJP leadership to stake a claim for government formation.[80] Shinde and his supporters initially traveled to Surat, Gujarat, on June 22, before relocating to Guwahati, Assam, amid allegations of poaching by the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition.[81] Fadnavis met Shinde in Delhi on June 28, facilitating talks that positioned Shinde as the Chief Ministerial candidate despite initial BJP preferences for Fadnavis himself, a decision aimed at ensuring legislative stability through Shiv Sena's numerical support.[82] On June 29, Fadnavis submitted letters of support from 158 MLAs to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, prompting Thackeray's resignation the next day to avert President's Rule.[83] Eknath Shinde was sworn in as Chief Minister on June 30, 2022, with Fadnavis taking oath as Deputy Chief Minister, marking the end of the MVA government after nearly three years of coalition tensions.[84] The new BJP-Shiv Sena alliance government passed a trust vote on July 3, 2022, amid Supreme Court scrutiny over Speaker Rahul Narwekar's disqualification proceedings, which later validated Shinde's faction as the true Shiv Sena in 2023.[85] As Deputy Chief Minister from June 30, 2022, to December 5, 2024, Fadnavis held portfolios including Home, Energy, and Law & Judiciary, focusing on law enforcement reforms and infrastructure projects to stabilize the state post-crisis.[86] The government prioritized economic recovery, attracting investments in sectors like automobiles and industry, while managing coalition dynamics.[87] In July 2023, NCP leader Ajit Pawar joined the coalition with his faction, becoming a second Deputy Chief Minister, expanding the alliance to include Shiv Sena (Shinde), BJP, and NCP (Ajit Pawar) under the Mahayuti banner.[57] This period saw criticisms from MVA leaders alleging horse-trading in the 2022 split, though the government defended its formation on ideological and majority grounds.[88] Fadnavis's strategic patience in the deputy role contributed to Mahayuti's electoral success in November 2024, paving the way for his elevation to Chief Minister.[89]Third Term as Chief Minister (2024-present)
Election Victory and Government Formation
In the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections held on November 20, 2024, the Mahayuti alliance, comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena (led by Eknath Shinde), and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP, led by Ajit Pawar), achieved a clear majority by securing 230 seats out of 288.[90] The BJP emerged as the single largest party with 132 seats, followed by Shiv Sena with 57 and NCP with 41, enabling the alliance to surpass the 145-seat threshold required for government formation.[90] Results were declared on November 23, 2024, marking a reversal from the fragmented mandate of 2019 and reflecting voter consolidation behind the incumbent coalition amid campaigns focused on development and governance continuity.[91] Post-election deliberations within the Mahayuti alliance centered on leadership allocation, with initial discussions resolving in favor of reinstating Devendra Fadnavis as Chief Minister to leverage his prior administrative experience. On December 4, 2024, Fadnavis was unanimously elected leader of the BJP's 132-member legislative party during a meeting in Mumbai, positioning him to head the new government.[92] Alliance leaders, including Fadnavis, Shinde, and Pawar, submitted support letters to Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan, staking claim to form the government and demonstrating combined strength exceeding the majority mark.[93] Fadnavis was sworn in as Chief Minister for a third non-consecutive term on December 5, 2024, at a public ceremony held at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, administered by the Governor at approximately 5:30 PM IST.[94] Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar were simultaneously administered oaths as Deputy Chief Ministers, preserving the tripartite power-sharing formula that had sustained the alliance since 2022.[95] The event, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and chief ministers from BJP-ruled states, underscored national endorsement of the alliance's mandate and proceeded without reported procedural delays.[96] Cabinet expansion followed shortly, with 39 ministers inducted by December 15, 2024, adhering to the assembly's size limits under Article 164 of the Indian Constitution.[97]Investment Drives and Economic Priorities
Upon assuming office for his third term on December 5, 2024, Fadnavis prioritized accelerating Maharashtra's economic growth through aggressive investment attraction, targeting a state GDP of $1 trillion by 2030 and $5 trillion by 2047.[98][99] This vision emphasizes infrastructure development, ease of doing business reforms, and sector-specific incentives to leverage Mumbai's financial hub status and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region's (MMR) potential as a $1.5 trillion economy.[100] Key initiatives include expanding renewable energy capacity to 100,000 MW via pump storage systems and promoting solar-powered irrigation for agricultural productivity.[101] Maharashtra recorded record foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows under Fadnavis's renewed leadership, attracting ₹1.65 lakh crore for the full fiscal year 2024-25, accounting for 40% of India's total FDI and surpassing the previous decade's cumulative inflows in just nine months with ₹1.39 lakh crore.[102][103][104] These figures reflect targeted drives such as the Magnetic Maharashtra Summit, which bolstered FDI in infrastructure and industry, and international outreach including a partner state agreement with Iowa, USA, for collaboration in agriculture, advanced manufacturing, and technology.[105][106] At the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2025, Fadnavis secured memoranda of understanding (MoUs) worth ₹15.70 lakh crore, focusing on manufacturing, IT, and logistics, though critics noted that such pledges often materialize slowly due to implementation hurdles.[107] Sectoral policies underscored Fadnavis's emphasis on innovation and diversification. In October 2025, the state approved the Gems and Jewellery Policy 2025, aiming to draw ₹1 lakh crore in investments and generate 5 lakh jobs through incentives for processing units and export hubs.[108] Similarly, a ₹50 trillion asset tokenisation framework was announced to digitize real-world assets like real estate and infrastructure, positioning Maharashtra as India's first "tokenised state" to unlock idle capital for reinvestment.[109] Infrastructure priorities included advancing the "Third Mumbai" and "Fourth Mumbai" projects for decongesting the core city, alongside mega developments like the Navi Mumbai International Airport's third phase, Vadhvan Port, and bullet train corridors to integrate MMR with global trade networks.[110][111] Administrative directives to divisional commissioners further promoted MSME investments, export facilitation, and single-window clearances to reduce bureaucratic delays.[112] The Maharashtra Budget for 2025-26, presented by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in March 2025, aligned with these drives by allocating resources for revenue-generating measures amid rising state debt, while sustaining welfare schemes like Ladki Bahin to maintain political support without derailing fiscal prudence.[113][114] Fadnavis's three-stage governance roadmap—immediate actions for 2029, mid-term for 2035, and long-term for 2047—integrated these efforts, prioritizing IT/ITES investments of ₹95,000 crore and streamlined industrial policies to sustain Maharashtra's lead in GST collections and ease of doing business rankings.[115][116] Despite optimistic projections, challenges such as high debt levels and uneven MoU realization underscore the need for execution-focused reforms to convert commitments into tangible growth.[113]Anti-Naxal Operations and Law Enforcement
During his third term as Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis oversaw significant advancements in anti-Naxal operations in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district, a longstanding Maoist stronghold. On October 15, 2025, 61 senior Naxal cadres, including top commander Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Bhupathi with a ₹25 lakh bounty, surrendered before Fadnavis, handing over 50 weapons in a ceremony attended by state police.[117][118] This followed a temporary pause in aggressive operations to facilitate Bhupathi's negotiations, where assurances of protection and amnesty were extended, though Fadnavis emphasized that anti-Naxal actions would continue unabated.[119][120] The Maoist central committee subsequently denounced Bhupathi as a traitor, signaling internal fractures.[121] In 2024, operations resulted in 24 Naxals neutralized and 19 surrenders, including high-ranking leaders, contributing to Fadnavis's declaration that the "spinal cord of Maoism" in Maharashtra had been broken and Naxalism nearly eliminated.[122] Earlier in January 2025, 11 Naxals, including a female commander, surrendered directly to Fadnavis in Gadchiroli.[123] Encounters persisted, such as a February 2025 clash where a C-60 commando unit inspector was killed, prompting Fadnavis to announce ₹2 crore in aid to the officer's family.[124][125] The government allocated ₹3 crore in rehabilitation packages to the October 2025 surrender group, aiming to reintegrate them while urging remaining cadres to follow suit.[126] Fadnavis also proposed the Jan Suraksha Adhiniyam to counter urban Naxal networks, which he accused of propaganda and youth radicalization; the bill awaited presidential assent as of October 2025.[127][128] In broader law enforcement reforms, Fadnavis prioritized modernization and technology integration. In September 2025, he advocated for agile policing adapted to cyber and white-collar crimes, noting street crime's decline, and highlighted 2023 organizational restructuring in the Maharashtra Police.[129][130] The state established an advanced Cyber Security Lab to dismantle cyber threats.[131] In August 2025, he inaugurated five new police stations in Pune, AI-based surveillance systems, and recruitment of 1,000 personnel to bolster urban enforcement.[132] To implement India's new criminal laws, Fadnavis announced a six-month rollout in February 2025, including 27 forensic vans for backlog cases over seven years old.[133] In May 2025, trained constables were empowered to investigate minor offenses, reducing senior officer burdens and aiming to boost conviction rates through faster probes.[134]Electoral Record
Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Contests
Devendra Fadnavis first contested and won a seat in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in the 1999 elections from the Nagpur West constituency, defeating the incumbent Congress MLA Vinod Gudhade Patil.[135] He secured re-election from Nagpur West in 2004 as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate.[27] Beginning with the 2009 elections, Fadnavis shifted to the Nagpur South West constituency, where he has maintained an unbroken record of victories in subsequent assembly polls. Fadnavis's electoral successes in Nagpur South West have typically featured substantial margins, reflecting strong local support in the urban Nagpur area, though margins have varied with opposition strength and voter turnout. In 2009, he defeated Congress candidate Vikas Pandurang Thakre by 27,775 votes.[136] His 2014 win came amid the BJP's statewide surge, securing 113,918 votes against the Congress-NCP alliance's challenge.[137] The 2019 contest saw him prevail over Congress's Ashish Deshmukh by a margin of 49,344 votes, with Fadnavis polling 109,237 votes despite a fragmented opposition including Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi candidates.[138][139] In the 2024 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections held on November 20, Fadnavis won Nagpur South West for the fourth consecutive time, defeating Indian National Congress candidate Prafulla Vinodrao Gudadhe by 39,710 votes after securing 129,401 votes (56.88% of the total polled).[140]| Year | Constituency | Party | Votes Received | Margin of Victory | Runner-up (Party) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Nagpur West | BJP | Not specified | Not specified | Vinod Gudhade Patil (Congress)[135] |
| 2004 | Nagpur West | BJP | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
| 2009 | Nagpur South West | BJP | 89,258 | 27,775 | Vikas Pandurang Thakre (Congress)[136] |
| 2014 | Nagpur South West | BJP | 113,918 | Not specified | Not specified[137] |
| 2019 | Nagpur South West | BJP | 109,237 | 49,344 | Ashish Deshmukh (Congress)[138] |
| 2024 | Nagpur South West | BJP | 129,401 | 39,710 | Prafulla Vinodrao Gudadhe (Congress)[140] |