On the occasion of his 55th birthday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was the subject of rare cross-party praise from his long-time political opponents—Sharad Pawar, President of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar faction), and Uddhav Thackeray, head of the Shiv Sena (UBT). The glowing remarks were featured in a commemorative coffee table book titled Maharashtra Nayak, released by Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhavan.
Despite representing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Fadnavis expressed deep gratitude toward the leaders of opposing ideologies. “We are ideological opponents, not enemies,” he told reporters in his hometown of Nagpur. “Sharad Pawar is a large-hearted and senior leader. His comments are priceless for me.”
In a reflective piece in the book, Sharad Pawar, who made history as the youngest Chief Minister of Maharashtra at age 38 in 1978, drew parallels between his own journey and that of Fadnavis. Now 84, Pawar noted Fadnavis’s impressive command over state administration and his energetic leadership. In a lighthearted note, he even commented on their shared “heavier” build, humorously wondering how Fadnavis never seems to tire.
Uddhav Thackeray, also a former Chief Minister, praised Fadnavis for being “studious and loyal,” and credited him for fortifying the BJP’s base in a state that was once a Congress stronghold. He also acknowledged Fadnavis’s potential for playing a larger role at the national level, offering his best wishes for the CM’s political future.
Devendra Fadnavis first assumed office in 2014 at the age of 44, making him Maharashtra’s second-youngest Chief Minister after Pawar. He holds the distinction of being the first BJP Chief Minister of the state, a testament to the party’s growing popularity in Maharashtra’s shifting political landscape.
The Maharashtra Nayak tribute underscores how Fadnavis’s leadership has transcended party lines, earning him recognition not just from his supporters, but also from the very leaders who once opposed him.
