The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has played a key role in Devendra Fadnavis bagging the Maharashtra chief minister's post. There were several contenders earlier, including Nitin Gadkari and Eknath Khadse, but RSS went for Fadnavis and stood behind him till the final selection.
Why was Gadkari a top contender?
Sources in RSS told dna that the Union minister tried to get the coveted post by showing his strength and explicit support of legislators from Vidarbha. "Even Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar was in agreement that Gadkari should be anointed CM. And with him being close to Pawar, he could have successfully run the fractured-mandate government in state. Hence, NCP declared outside support to BJP on election result day itself. But RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat wanted Fadnavis, who has a clean image, as CM," said a source.
How did RSS mollify the Union minister?
Both Gadkari and Fadnavis are Brahmins and close to Bhagwat, but he preferred the inexperienced 44-year-old over the experienced and senior 57-year-old. "Gadkari withdrew himself from the CM race and said he is happy in Delhi after meeting the RSS chief. Bhagwat convinced him that he should remain in Delhi politics and Fadnavis should be allowed to grow in state politics. This way, RSS can keep a watch on prime minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre as well as Fadnavis-led BJP government in the state. It was a balancing act by the RSS chief to defuse tensions," said a party source.
How did Khadse try to bag the position?
The senior Bahujan and BJP leader from North Maharashtra tried to convince the BJP leadership till the eleventh hour that, considering seniority and experience, he should be made CM. "However, Khadse is not close to RSS, so his chances of becoming CM diminished. Khadse conveyed to party leaders that ignoring a senior Bahujan leader like him will send wrong message to party cadres and state at large, and that it will have adverse ramifications, leading to rumblings that Bahujan leaders in BJP were ignored while giving the top posts. However, central BJP leaders were firm in their selection of Fadnavis. They wanted the decision to be unanimous and, hence, asked Khadse to propose Fadnavis's name," said a senior BJP leader.
Jumping in when required
RSS always denies its role in BJP's functioning. However, it steps in whenever there is a leadership crisis, or delicate decisions have to be taken. "When BJP cadre had decided to announce and anoint Narendra Modi as the prime ministerial candidate before the Lok Sabha election, senior BJP leaders LK Advani and Sushma Swaraj were not in favour of it. Bhagwat then went to Delhi and met Advani and convinced him that it was important to declare Modi as PM candidate to come to power," said a political observer.
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