Scotching speculation about the possibility of his moving to New Delhi in the immediate future, Devendra Fadnavis said in Mumbai on Thursday that he would continue to remain as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
Addressing the State BJP executive meeting at Borivli in north Mumbai, Fadnavis also said that there were no immediate plans to remove State party president Raosaheb Patil-Danve.
Reacting to speculation in the state political circles that his party might move him to the national capital, Fadnavis said: “Till I get a call from Delhi, I will continue to be the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. There is no question of my moving to Delhi in the immediate future”.
There has been speculation for sometime that Fadnavis might be appointed as the new Defence Minister in place of Manohar Parrikar who moved to Panjim in March this year to become the Chief Minister of Goa. Arun Jaitley currently holds the Defence portfolio in the Narendra Modi Cabinet.
Also dismissing reports in a section of the media that his party leadership might remove Patil-Danve from his post in the wake of various controversies surrounding him, the Chief Minister said; “The question of Danve-Patil being removed as the State BJP President does not arise. We will fight the elections in future under his leadership”.
Hitting out at the leaders of steering committee of various farmers’ organisations who had threatened to prevent Ministers from unfurling the national flag on Independence Day, the Chief Minister said: “The farmer steering committee members who threatened not to allow Guardian Ministers to unfurl national tri-colour are nothing but traitors. If we are to lose power we do not mind. But, we will not spare these traitors”.
Fadnavis charged that some farmers had tried to unleash anarchy by demanding full farm loan waiver. “The agitation seeking farm loan waiver was politically motivated," he said.
The Chief Minister said that the State Government had sought online forms from farmers seeking farm loan waiver so as to remove any possible corruption in the farm loan waiver process.
He urged the BJP workers across the State to help farmer submit online forms to the State Government seeking loan waiver.
Complimenting the Kranti Maratha Morcha for its peaceful and disciplined agitation seeking reservations and other demands, Fadnavis said: “The Morcha organised as many 58 rallies across the State. Some people tried to derive political mileage. But, the morcha leaders did not allow that to happen”.