Maharashtra polls: BJP cannot win solo, will emerge as largest party, says Devendra Fadnavis

MUMBAI: The polarisation of votes that was seen during the Lok Sabha election will not be repeated in the state assembly elections, affirmed deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.

In an interview to a news channel on Sunday Fadnavis said the BJP alone cannot win the upcoming assembly polls in the state but maintained that it will emerge as the single largest party after the elections.

“One has to be practical about the ground reality,” he said, underscoring that Mahayuti allies BJP, Shiv Sena led by CM Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar's NCP can fight unitedly and win the elections.

“BJP alone cannot win the state but it is also true that we have the most seats and the highest voting percentage. After the elections, the BJP will emerge as the single largest party in the state The consolidation of votes of all the three parties can only make us victorious,” he said.

Asked about BJP leaders who could not get tickets to contest the elections and the possibility of them turning rebellious, Fadnavis said, “One (party) cannot say that you want other parties' votes but refuse to compromise on seat sharing. I feel sad for some of our aspiring candidates who could not be given a chance in this assembly elections.”

In a lighter vein, he said the current situation in the state is like many movies being made and every aspiring actor getting the role of a lead character. The BJP has declared candidates for 121 of the 288 constituencies in the state so far. Fadnavis expressed confidence that the BJP would form the government with the help of Shiv Sena, NCP and the Republican Party of India.