Devendra Fadnavis becomes Maharashtra's third longest-serving Chief Minister, says BJP

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has become the states third longestserving Chief Minister BJP State Chief Spokesperson Navnath Ban said on Monday while expressing confidence that Fadnavis would eventually become Maharashtras longestserving Chief MinisterAddressing a press conference at the BJP state office in Mumbai Ban attributed Fadnavis political longevity to sustained public support and said the Chief Ministers tenure reflected the confidence reposed in him by the people of MaharashtraAccording to Ban Fadnavis who has served as Chief Minister on three occasions has consistently received public backing because of decisions taken in the interest of the state He said Fadnavis had earlier completed a full fiveyear term as Chief Minister and has now become the third longestserving person to hold the post in MaharashtraThere is no doubt that he will go on to become the longestserving Chief Minister in the states history Ban saidBJP highlights infrastructure and welfare initiativesHighlighting the governments development agenda Ban described Fadnavis as an infrastructure man and said his tenure had been marked by the implementation of several major infrastructure and public welfare projectsHe cited projects including the redevelopment of BDD Chawls the Atal Setu the Mumbai Metro network the Coastal Road and the Samruddhi Mahamarg as key initiatives completed under Fadnavis leadershipBan also said Devendra Fadnavis holds the record for announcing the highest farm loan waiver as Chief Minister Referring to the governments farm relief measures he said loans of up to Rs 2 lakh had been waived for eligible farmersHe further claimed that veteran leader Sharad Pawar had appreciated the farm loan waiver decision because it was announced without any immediate electoral considerationsOpposition criticised over remarks on welfare schemesDuring the press conference Ban criticised Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut over his remarks on the Ladki Bahin Yojana and questioned the oppositions criticism of the schemeHe said women beneficiaries would respond politically to anyone opposing the programme and alleged that the Congress had approached the court seeking to halt its implementationBan asserted that the BJPled Mahayuti government would continue the scheme as long as it remained in power He said women currently receive Rs 1500 per month under the programme and reiterated the BJPs election promise of increasing the assistance to Rs 2100 per monthWe will fulfil this promise as well he saidBJP attacks opposition over political alliancesBan also criticised Sanjay Raut and Shiv Sena UBT president Uddhav Thackeray over their political alliances with the Samajwadi Party and the Congress questioning their political positioningHe alleged that the opposition lacked the moral authority to comment on issues relating to the Ram Temple and accused its alliance partners of taking contradictory positions on the issue in the pastTaking a swipe at Raut Ban questioned his political achievements and accused him of frequently making controversial statements He also alleged that Uddhav Thackeray had moved away from the political ideology associated with his father for electoral considerationsClaims of growing divide within MVACommenting on the internal dynamics of the Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA Ban claimed that differences within the opposition alliance were becoming increasingly visibleReferring to recent political developments he said Raut was correct in suggesting that Sharad Pawar was taking everyone along but alleged that Pawar was moving ahead without the Shiv Sena UBT faction Ban further claimed that the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackerayled party had become increasingly isolated within the alliance