Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seems to have played his part well as a BJP chieftain in ensuring his party's victory in the Lok Sabha elections. Fadnavis is being credited for holding the BJP fort at a time when Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) led by AIMIM and Prakash Ambedkar has added a third dimension to the high-stake contest between the NDA and the Congress-NCP combine in Maharashtra.
The BJP's poll strategy ensured that the saffron party retain its 2014 tally of 23 seats despite latent anti-incumbency and drought. The results will further strengthen Fadnavis' hand as the state faces the crucial Assembly elections in September-October this year. In 2019 general elections, the NDA won 41 of total 48 seats, which is a replay of its 2014 performance. While the BJP won 23 seats with a vote share of 27.59%, the Sena bagged 18 seats with a vote share of 23.29%. The NDA has won 41 out of total 48 seats in the state. Fadnavis, 48, who became chief minister in October 2014, is set to complete a full term in office, which is rare in Maharashtra's political history. "Fadnavis had addressed 97 rallies in the state during the Lok Sabha campaigning.