Devendra Fadnavis Reclaims Maharashtra CM Seat — A Look At His Rise

The BJP's bid for Maharashtra has reaped fruit, as Devendra Fadnavis has made a comeback as chief minister of the state. This, after a closely watched back and forth on who will take the seat between the other Mahayuti players—Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's faction of the Nationalist Congress Party.

The BJP leader, who currently serves as the Deputy Chief Minister of the state, held the post from 2014 to 2019 previously.

Hailing from a middle-class family in Nagpur, Fadnavis' academic qualifications include a law degree, a postgraduate degree in business management, and a diploma in project management from D.S.E. Berlin.

His political journey began in 1992, when he was first elected as a councilor in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation. He served two consecutive terms and became the youngest Mayor of Nagpur at the age of 27. His tenure as Mayor, which included being re-elected to the position and later holding the 'Mayor in Council' role, marked the beginning of his steady rise in politics.

Fadnavis' influence extended beyond Nagpur. Over the years, he was elected as a Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for five consecutive terms, solidifying his position as a key political figure in the state. In the Bharatiya Janata Party, he quickly moved through the ranks, from Ward Convener to President of the Maharashtra BJP. His organisational leadership also included responsibilities as the party’s in-charge for Kerala and election in-charge for Kerala, Bihar, and Goa during the 2020-21 elections. Fadnavis also became the first Chief Minister in 47 years to complete a full five-year term.

Apart from his role as Chief Minister, Fadnavis held several key portfolios, including home, general administration, IT, urban development, law and judiciary, ports, and information and public relations.