The nomination papers of Chavan, a four-term legislator and Maratha representative who currently holds the working president post in the party, were filed on Monday in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and outgoing BJP state president Chandrashekar Bawankule. Chavan’s was the only nomination received by the party by evening
(From left) BJP MLA Ravindra Chavan, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and outgoing BJP state president Chandrashekar Bawankule. Pic/By Special Arrangement
Former minister and sitting BJP MLA from Dombivli, Ravindra Chavan, is all set to be appointed as the new president of the Maharashtra unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). An official announcement to this effect will be made at 5 pm on Tuesday during a party meeting to be held at the NSCI Dome in Worli. Union minister Kiren Rijiju was in Mumbai as he has been appointed as an observer for the BJP’s state party presidential election.
The nomination papers of Chavan, a four-term legislator and Maratha representative who currently holds the working president post in the party, were filed on Monday in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and outgoing BJP state president Chandrashekar Bawankule. Chavan’s was the only nomination received by the party by evening.
Bawankule, a prominent OBC leader within the party, in 2024, was inducted into the state cabinet and now heads the important revenue ministry in the Mahayuti government, which comprises the BJP, Ajit Pawar-led NCP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. In 2022, Bawankule was appointed party president.
Fadnavis, speaking to the media, stated that Chavan, who played a crucial role in the expansion of the party in the Konkan and other regions, was all set to take over as the head of the Maharashtra party unit. The CM further explained the election process and mentioned that the official announcement on the new party president would be made on Tuesday evening at a function organised in Worli.
Chavan’s appointment comes ahead of the crucial polls to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and 28 other civic bodies scheduled later this year. Elaborating on a query asked about local body elections, Fadnavis said, “Chavan [as the new state BJP president], along with central leadership, will take decisions on the local body polls.”
Konkan question
The Dombivli MLA, who originally hails from the coastal Konkan belt, is said to be a close aide of Fadnavis and has held portfolios of the public works (excluding public undertakings) and the food and civil supplies and consumer protection departments. Chavan has also served as the guardian minister of Palghar and Sindhudurg districts.
Asked about a state president being from the Konkan, Fadnavis said, “We are in alliance, hence there are certain limitations, but certainly there is no restriction on strengthening the party’s base in the region.” BJP’s ally, the Shiv Sena, has a strong presence in the region. Hence, if the BJP plans to expand there, it will certainly need to carry out a balancing act to ensure that the alliance's power equation is not disturbed while achieving its goals.
Shinde Sena’s place in equation
With Ravindra Chavan’s elevation to the state party president post, it remains to be seen if one witnesses more friction or cordiality between the BJP with the Shinde Sena. Insiders from both parties on several past occasions have informally spoken about a strained relationship between Chavan and Eknath Shinde and his party members, especially his son, Kalyan MP Shrikant Shinde. The equation between Chavan and Shinde has always been complex over influence in the Kalyan-Dombivli region.
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