Nagpur: In a powerful roadshow before filing his nomination, Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis lashed out at MPCC president Nana Patole for ‘blindly endorsing’ Congress leader Rahul Gandhi‘s stance on reservations.
Fadnavis referred to Gandhi’s recent comments in the United States about scrapping reservations, accusing Congress of being perpetually opposed to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s ideals. The BJP leader’s remarks came during a rally from Samvidhan Square to Akashwani Square on Friday, where he was joined by Union minister Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule.
Highlighting a legacy of opposition to reservation from former Congress leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi, Fadnavis alleged that the Congress consistently undermined Dr Ambedkar’s commitment to social justice. “Congress leaders, from Nehru to Rajiv, held a dismissive stance on reservations, and today, we see the same rhetoric abroad,” he said. “It is unfortunate that Patole, a representative of Maharashtra, is following Rahul Gandhi’s anti-reservation stance. But as long as BJP stands, no one can touch reservations,” he asserted to an enthusiastic crowd.
The rally featured an impressive turnout, with traditional bands and throngs of supporters accompanying Fadnavis, Gadkari, Bawankule, and Nagpur’s sitting MLAs Krishna Khopde and Mohan Mate. Fadnavis’s wife Amruta, daughter Divija, Bahujan Republican Ekta Manch’s Sulekha Kumbhare and People Republican Party’s Jogendra Kawade accompanied him in the specially made vehicle for the rally.
After the rally, Fadnavis, along with Khopde and Mate, submitted their nominations for the city’s Nagpur South West, East and South constituencies. Earlier, Fadnavis sought blessings from his mother at his city residence, and then went to Gadkari’s home with his family for the same.
Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda, and Gadkari for the party’s support, the deputy CM expressed confidence that Nagpur’s citizens would once again endorse him in his sixth bid for office. “I stand on 25 years of work, and with your continued support, we will bring Mahayuti back to power and maintain Maharashtra’s growth momentum,” he declared.
As the rally progressed, Fadnavis shifted focus to another contentious issue: Congress’s opposition to the ‘Ladki Bahin Yojana’, an initiative providing ₹1,500 monthly to registered women in Maharashtra. Accusing Patole and former Congress minister Sunil Kedar of obstructing the scheme, the Nagpur Southwest MLA contended that the opposition’s moves were an attempt to deny benefits to women, Dalits, OBCs, and tribal communities. “Our beloved sisters will send a strong message to the MVA,” he proclaimed, pledging that the Mahayuti govt would remain steadfast in its mission to uplift marginalised groups.
Fadnavis took the opportunity to outline additional programmes under the coalition govt aimed at fostering inclusive development. These include the ‘Swayam’ scheme for Dalits, the creation of 54 new hostels for OBC students, and expanding education initiatives for young women across Maharashtra. “We’re breaking down barriers for all groups, offering free power, education, and resources to marginalised girls and the broader OBC community,” he added, painting a stark contrast to the Congress-NCP alliance, which he claimed neglected Vidarbha’s growth during its 15 years in govt in the state.
Gadkari, echoing Fadnavis’s appeal for support, highlighted Nagpur’s growth trajectory under the Mahayuti, citing projects worth over ₹1 lakh crore completed in the past decade. “Our city is now a model of cleanliness and sustainability,” he stated, pointing to the Mihan project and the Samruddhi Expressway as transformative projects that reshaped the region. Gadkari credited the city’s development to sustained public backing, envisioning Nagpur as a future benchmark for green urban development.
Fadnavis, in closing, rallied his supporters to endorse ‘the tigers of the Mahayuti’ in the upcoming elections, urging them to back BJP’s local candidates and preserve Nagpur’s forward momentum. “Nagpur’s achievements reflect the unwavering support of its people,” he emphasized. “With your blessings, we will continue our journey, bringing prosperity and growth to our city and state. Without your support, none of this would be possible,” he said.
