Archive · 11 Nov 2025
Fadnavis Rallies BJP for Maharashtra Local Polls on War Footing
Imagine Maharashtra is like a big playground where different teams are getting ready for important games called local elections.
The main coach, Devendra Fadnavis, gathered his team captains (the BJP district leaders) to make sure everyone is super ready, like preparing for a big battle.
He told them to work really hard, 'on a war footing,' because they really want to win.
Some of the players are already forming teams with other friends (like the NCP), but the coach says they need to check if these friendships are working well for their team.
Sometimes, the players on the ground feel they can win better if they play by themselves instead of joining up with others.
So, the coach's main instruction is to look at each area and decide the best way to win, whether it's with friends or on their own.
They are especially focused on winning back a big part of the playground called the BMC, which another team has controlled for a long time.
Devendra Fadnavis has instructed BJP workers to prepare for upcoming local body elections on a 'war footing'.
A meeting was held with district in-charge leaders to assess election preparedness.
The BJP will decide on alliances based on ground reality and the need for organizational growth.
Many local BJP units prefer to contest elections independently to test their strength.
The BJP aims to strategically challenge existing power structures, including the Shiv Sena (UBT)'s long-standing control of the BMC.
- Who
- Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra Chief Minister, along with BJP district in-charge leaders, State BJP president Ravindra Chavan, BJP joint general secretary Shiv Prakash, and ministers Ashish Shelar and Chandrashekhar Bawankule
- What
- Chaired a meeting directing BJP workers to prepare for local body elections on a war footing, emphasizing the need to win and strategically deciding on alliances based on ground reality.
- When
- Tuesday, ahead of local body elections starting December 2.
- Where
- Maharashtra
- Why
- To strategize and prepare the BJP's organizational strength for upcoming local body elections, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), and to address the party's approach to pre-poll alliances.
BJP's Stance on Alliances
Party Cadre's Preference
Alliance Strategy
BJP's Stance on Alliances
Devendra Fadnavis directs district leaders to assess ground reality and decide on alliances based on organizational growth, implying a flexible approach that prioritizes BJP's interests.
Party Cadre's Preference
A significant portion of BJP units in local bodies prefer to contest elections alone to test their strength and consolidate the party's position, indicating a desire to move away from pre-poll alliances with Shiv Sena or NCP.
Coalition Norms
BJP's Stance on Alliances
A senior BJP minister questions the adherence to coalition norms by allies like NCP and NCP (SP), suggesting that if others don't follow them, the BJP will act in its own best interest.
Party Cadre's Preference
The sentiment from party managers suggests a growing disconnect between central directives and the on-the-ground readiness and preference of local BJP units for independent contests.
- Meeting Chair
- Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra Chief Minister
- Meeting Purpose
- Assess preparations for upcoming local body elections
- Election Schedule
- Three phases starting December 2 for municipal councils and nagar panchayats; dates for zilla parishads and municipal corporations to be announced; BMC elections likely in mid-January.
- Key Participants
- State BJP president Ravindra Chavan, BJP joint general secretary Shiv Prakash, ministers Ashish Shelar and Chandrashekhar Bawankule
- Fadnavis's Directive
- Work on a war footing, fight to win
- BJP Goal for BMC
- Dislodge the Shiv Sena (UBT)'s three-decade-old rule