Nagpur/Mumbai, July 11 (IANS) Amid intense speculation over a potential shift to national politics, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday broke his silence, offering a characteristically brief and witty response to the ongoing rumours.

When reporters questioned him about mounting speculation that he might soon take up a leadership role in New Delhi, he dismissed the chatter in a single sentence.

“I just went to Delhi the day before yesterday,” the Chief Minister said, steering clear of any further elaboration.

The political atmosphere in Maharashtra has been highly charged, with Opposition leaders frequently claiming that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) high command plans to move Fadnavis to the Centre.

The fresh wave of rumours was triggered earlier in the day by Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, who made a series of predictions regarding the state’s future leadership.

Raut claimed that if Fadnavis moved to the Centre, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule would be the most likely candidate to succeed him as Chief Minister.

“If Chief Minister Fadnavis goes to the Centre, the reins of the state will pass to Chandrashekhar Bawankule,” Raut said.

“You might think I would name someone else, but as I see it, after CM Fadnavis, Bawankule is the most suitable leader from the Vidarbha region. He communicates with everyone and knows how to keep the team together. In fact, CM Fadnavis himself will recommend Bawankule’s name.”

Raut also took a dig at the current political equations, categorically ruling out any chance of an Eknath Shinde comeback.

“Eknath Shinde will not become the Chief Minister again — absolutely not. Meanwhile, Girish Mahajan’s track record is highly unfavourable,” he claimed.

Extending sarcastic good wishes, Raut added that if Fadnavis moved to Delhi, he should aim for the highest office.

“There are constant discussions about him going to the Centre. What will he do there? If he becomes the Prime Minister before 2029, we would be delighted. As fellow Maharashtrians, we extend our best wishes to him; even Uddhav Thackeray has wished him well,” Raut said, adding that the Opposition believes the BJP will not return to power after 2029.

Raut’s comments align with previous statements made by Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray during the recent legislative assembly session. Thackeray had asserted that this would be Fadnavis’s final session as Chief Minister.

“CM Fadnavis will be handed ministerial responsibilities in Delhi. The BJP will not keep him in Maharashtra under any circumstances. He will meet the same fate as Shivraj Singh Chouhan,” Thackeray had remarked, referring to the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister’s transition to a Union Cabinet role.

While the Opposition continues to project an imminent leadership churn, CM Fadnavis’ brief retort indicates that the Mahayuti leadership is currently focused on state affairs, brushing aside the theories of his move to national politics as mere political speculation.

Meanwhile, Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule clarified in a post on X: “Currently, the rumour mill is working overtime. One such rumour was planted today. It can only be described as a completely baseless interpretation. One truth is as clear as daylight: it is the wish of the 14 crore (140 million) people of Maharashtra that the ‘Inframan’ of Maharashtra, Hon. Shri Devendra Fadnavis ji, should remain the Chief Minister until 2034. This is exactly what a developed Maharashtra needs. No one should be in a hurry to become the Chief Minister.”

–IANS

sj/pgh