Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday rejected political speculation surrounding his leadership, saying he remains focused on development and has the support of the people of Maharashtra and the BJP leadership. His remarks came in response to Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray’s recent comments suggesting that a political campaign was being carried out to weaken him.
Fadnavis Responds to ‘Operation Devendra’ Remark
Speaking to reporters during his visit to Palghar, where he reviewed the progress of the Vadhavan Port and several infrastructure projects, Fadnavis dismissed the political narrative surrounding his position.
Responding to Uddhav Thackeray’s allegation that “Operation Tiger” was actually “Operation Devendra” to stop him from emerging as a future Prime Ministerial contender, the Chief Minister said politics was not his priority.
“For me, political issues are secondary. My entire concentration is on development,” Fadnavis said.
He also rejected suggestions that anyone could politically weaken him, saying, “I am a human being. I don’t have wings, so who can clip them? I have the blessings of Maharashtra’s 14 crore people and my senior leaders, so there is no need to worry.”
CM Explains Same Flight With Uddhav Thackeray
The Chief Minister also addressed the political buzz over him and Uddhav Thackeray travelling on the same Mumbai-Nagpur flight on Friday.
Calling the incident a mere coincidence, Fadnavis said there was nothing unusual about two politicians boarding the same aircraft.
“It was a coincidence. There is nothing unusual about two leaders travelling on the same flight. Sometimes I wonder whether we are in politics or in ‘vedyancha bazar’ (market of mad people). He was sitting in one corner, and I was sitting in another. If we had been sitting next to each other, we could have chatted. What’s wrong with that?” he said.
‘Where Did They See Helplessness?’
Responding to Uddhav Thackeray’s claim that he looked “helpless” during the journey, Fadnavis dismissed the observation and said he spent the flight watching content on his mobile phone.
“From the time the flight took off until it landed, I was watching it. So where exactly did they see any helplessness on my face?” he remarked.
Political Tensions Continue
Taking a swipe at the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief, Fadnavis said he accepted Thackeray’s good wishes while hinting that Maharashtra’s political landscape could have been different had events unfolded differently in 2019.
The exchange of remarks comes as political rivalry between the BJP and Shiv Sena (UBT) continues to intensify, with both leaders targeting each other over recent political developments in the state while the ruling government maintains that its priority remains infrastructure growth and development.
