Rahul Made A Mistake By Not Taking Cabinet Berth: CM Fadnavis

Devendra Fadnavis talks to The Quint during his 4,000-kilometre ‘maha janadesh yatra’ ahead of Assembly polls.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has geared up for the upcoming state Assembly elections with his 4,000-kilometre ’janadesh yatra’ across state.

(Photo: The Quint)

Video Editor: Varun Sharma

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has geared up for the upcoming state Assembly elections with his 4,000-kilometre ’janadesh yatra’ across state. Talking to The Quint during one of his rallies, he said he has confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the work done by the NDA government in the state that will guide them to victory in the polls.

“This is a ‘samvaad’ (communication) rally. And via this medium, we’re informing people about the work we’ve done.”

Parameters For Entry of Leaders From Other Parties

Fadnavis said that the BJP has put some policies in place for those leaders of other political parties who are willing to join them.

“We have strategised our policies in such a way that if any party’s worker wants to join (our) party, there’s an ‘open door’ policy for them and we will take them. But we have put a filter of if he is a political leader.”

He said that they are taking only those leaders whom they can give tickets to, who have public confidence.

“If we keep an open door policy for leaders then other parties will be empty. Neither do we have that kind of space nor do we want to keep such a policy.”

Rahul Gandhi Will Not Get to Be PM Candidate

“When Manmohan Singh ji was the prime minister I had said Rahul Gandhi ji should take up a ministerial position and work. If his party wanted to project him as a prime minister (candidate) or even if he was to work as party chief he would be getting hands-on experience in active politics, about how a democracy runs,” Fadnavis said.

He said that amid Modi-wave, Gandhi will get to practice neither as a prime ministerial candidate nor as leader of Opposition.

“I would have been happy had he decided to serve as a minister. It was for his party to decide.”

‘Aditya Thackeray Will Be A Good Politician’

When asked about Aditya Thackeray, President of Yuva Sena (youth wing of Shiv Sena) and son of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav, and his prospects in state politics, Fadnavis said that he has a will to learn.

“I see a promising young leader in Aditya Thackeray. He is someone who wants to do something, he is doing hard work too. It’s good if such leaders join politics.”

Thackeray has tried to understand the problems of the people, Fadnavis said and he believes that this is very important in a democracy.

“As far as working in the Cabinet is concerned that decision will be taken by his party,” Fadnavis added.