Devendra Fadnavis once again takes the helm as Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Amid rare political circumstances, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as Maharashtra’s 20th Chief Minister on 14 July 2024, returning to the top executive post after more than two decades in the state. Over the past two years, he played an active role in coalition talks with opposition parties while taking several strategic steps to resolve leadership conflicts within the party. This new appointment of Fadnavis is being seen as an opportunity to accelerate the state’s economic development, infrastructure projects, and social welfare programmes.

In the 2024 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election, the BJP won 96 of 112 seats, while the National People’s Party (NJD) secured 14 and Informatic (IND) obtained 9 seats. Overall, the coalition received support for 179 of 180 seats, giving Fadnavis a stable majority. During the election campaign, he made “Revival of Development” the main slogan, increasing his popularity among both urban and rural groups.

After the swearing‑in ceremony, Fadnavis proposed a multi‑party government together with the NJD and IND, appointing representatives to 12 of the 20 ministerial posts from the BJP, 5 from the NJD, and 3 from the IND. This balanced allocation was intended to maintain the power equilibrium within the coalition and minimise potential disagreements. The new cabinet pledged to prioritise water, energy and urban development.

In terms of economic policy, Fadnavis announced an investment of 1.8 trillion rupees in the 2025‑26 budget, with special focus on infrastructure, industry and the digital economy. Under the plan, 15,000 kilometres of new roads will be constructed, 3,500 megawatt renewable‑energy projects will be launched, and a start‑up fund of 2,000 crore rupees will be set up. The government has linked these measures to the goals of job creation and raising the state’s GDP growth to 7.5 percent.

In the social‑welfare domain, Fadnavis placed the “Education‑Health‑Security” triangle at the centre and introduced several new schemes. The goal is to provide free digital classrooms in all government schools by 2025, along with scholarships for 1.2 crore children. Under health care, 3,000 new primary health centres will be established and advanced equipment will be installed in 500 hospitals. The security initiative includes the construction of 10,000 police outposts in rural areas.

Opposition parties have raised several questions about Fadnavis’s government, particularly concerning agricultural policies and the real impact on employment. The Congress has argued that the proposed budget investment is insufficient for rural areas and that small farmers will not receive adequate support. Additionally, rapid measures have been demanded to address the water crisis and urban traffic problems. Fadnavis has proposed a public dialogue platform to address these concerns.

Overall, Devendra Fadnavis’s new chief‑ministerial tenure represents a pivotal moment to redefine Maharashtra’s development trajectory, with expectations that economic reform, social inclusion and administrative transparency will be advanced together.