International Yoga Day celebrations in Mumbai took an unexpected turn after the attire worn by Amruta Fadnavis, wife of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, became the subject of intense discussion on social media.Amruta Fadnavis participated in a large-scale Yoga Day event organised by the Divyaj Foundation at the NSCI Dome in Worli. The programme saw the participation of over 1,000 children, including children of deceased farmers and students from BMC schools. Several dignitaries and celebrities were also present at the event, which was organised around this year's theme, "Yoga for One Earth, One Health."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">What Even Is Maharashtra CM wife Amruta Fadnavis wearing?? <a href="https://t.co/edHpVxrF6l">pic.twitter.com/edHpVxrF6l</a>&mdash; Rosy (@rose_k01) <a href="https://x.com/rose_k01/status/2068614620185809225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

While the event aimed to promote physical and mental well-being through yoga, social media attention quickly shifted to Amruta Fadnavis' outfit. She was seen wearing a bright green athleisure co-ord set comprising a fitted jacket and matching tights during the yoga session.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/from-indus-valley-to-instagram-5-000-years-of-yoga-and-journey-of-a-civilization-1782027845696">From Indus Valley to Instagram: 5,000 years of yoga and journey of a civilization</a>Soon after visuals from the event surfaced online, several social media users criticised her choice of clothing, with some calling it "inappropriate" for a public Yoga Day programme. A section of users argued that the outfit appeared more suited to a fitness photoshoot than a community yoga event attended by children.However, many others came out in her defence, pointing out that athleisure wear is commonly used during yoga and fitness activities across the world. Supporters argued that the criticism was unnecessary and that the focus should remain on the message of health and wellness promoted during the event.Amruta Fadnavis has not publicly responded to the criticism. The discussion nevertheless triggered a wider debate online about personal choice, fitness attire and the scrutiny often faced by public figures on social media.

Soon after visuals from the event surfaced online, several social media users criticised her choice of clothing, with some calling it "inappropriate" for a public Yoga Day programme. 

International Yoga Day celebrations in Mumbai took an unexpected turn after the attire worn by Amruta Fadnavis, wife of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, became the subject of intense discussion on social media. Amruta Fadnavis participated in a large-scale Yoga Day event organised by the Divyaj Foundation at the NSCI Dome in Worli. The programme saw the participation of over 1,000 children, including children of deceased farmers and students from BMC schools. Several dignitaries and celebrities were also present at the event, which was organised around this year's theme, "Yoga for One Earth, One Health."

Soon after visuals from the event surfaced online, several social media users criticised her choice of clothing, with some calling it "inappropriate" for a public Yoga Day programme.&nbsp;

Maha CM Wife Amruta Fadnavis' Yoga Day appearance sparks social media debate over attire | Watch

Mumbai's ambitious Dharavi Redevelopment Project is set to be modelled on global urban centres such as Singapore and Hong Kong, with the Maharashtra government outlining a vision that goes far beyond slum rehabilitation.&nbsp;Speaking at an event related to the Dharavi Redevelopment Project on Monday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the aim is to transform Dharavi into a world-class urban district with modern infrastructure, seamless connectivity, quality housing, commercial hubs and ample public spaces.&nbsp;The Chief Minister emphasised that the project should not be viewed merely as a rehabilitation exercise but as an opportunity to create a globally benchmarked city precinct in the heart of Mumbai. Drawing comparisons with Singapore and Hong Kong, Fadnavis said Dharavi has the potential to become a model for urban redevelopment not just in India but across the world.&nbsp;Spread across nearly 600 acres in central Mumbai, Dharavi is one of the most densely populated settlements in the world and is home to thousands of small-scale industries, workshops and businesses that generate an estimated turnover of billions of rupees annually. The redevelopment project aims to improve living conditions while preserving and strengthening Dharavi's unique economic ecosystem.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-threatens-to-turn-naval-blockade-into-another-defeat-for-us-1780950778198">Iran threatens to turn naval blockade into ‘another defeat’ for US</a>&nbsp;Officials associated with the project say the redevelopment blueprint includes modern residential towers, commercial districts, integrated transport infrastructure, open spaces, healthcare facilities, schools and community amenities. The project also seeks to formalise Dharavi's vast informal economy and provide better opportunities for local entrepreneurs and businesses.&nbsp;The government's renewed push comes as the project enters a crucial execution phase. Land acquisition and transfer processes are underway, rehabilitation planning has gathered pace, and surveys of residents and commercial units are being conducted on a large scale.&nbsp;The Dharavi Redevelopment Project, estimated to be among the largest urban renewal initiatives in the world, is expected to reshape Mumbai's skyline and redefine urban living standards for lakhs of residents.&nbsp;However, challenges remain. Rehabilitation, eligibility criteria, livelihood protection and the relocation of residents and businesses continue to be key concerns that will determine the success of the project.

Spread over nearly 600 acres, Dharavi houses thousands of businesses and industries, with the redevelopment project aiming to improve living conditions while protecting its economic ecosystem.

Mumbai's ambitious Dharavi Redevelopment Project is set to be modelled on global urban centres such as Singapore and Hong Kong, with the Maharashtra government outlining a vision that goes far beyond slum rehabilitation. Speaking at an event related to the Dharavi Redevelopment Project on Monday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the aim is to transform Dharavi into a world-class urban district with modern infrastructure, seamless connectivity, quality housing, commercial hubs and ample public spaces. The Chief Minister emphasised that the project should not be viewed merely as a rehabilitation exercise but as an opportunity to create a globally benchmarked city precinct in the heart of Mumbai. Drawing comparisons with Singapore and Hong Kong, Fadnavis said Dharavi has the potential to become a model for urban redevelopment not just in India but across the world. Spread across nearly 600 acres in central Mumbai, Dharavi is one of the most densely populated settlements in the world and is home to thousands of small-scale industries, workshops and businesses that generate an estimated turnover of billions of rupees annually. The redevelopment project aims to improve living conditions while preserving and strengthening Dharavi's unique economic ecosystem. Also Read: Iran threatens to turn naval blockade into ‘another defeat’ for US Officials associated with the project say the redevelopment blueprint includes modern residential towers, commercial districts, integrated transport infrastructure, open spaces, healthcare facilities, schools and community amenities. The project also seeks to formalise Dharavi's vast informal economy and provide better opportunities for local entrepreneurs and businesses. The government's renewed push comes as the project enters a crucial execution phase. Land acquisition and transfer processes are underway, rehabilitation planning has gathered pace, and surveys of residents and commercial units are being conducted on a large scale. The Dharavi Redevelopment Project, estimated to be among the largest urban renewal initiatives in the world, is expected to reshape Mumbai's skyline and redefine urban living standards for lakhs of residents. However, challenges remain. Rehabilitation, eligibility criteria, livelihood protection and the relocation of residents and businesses continue to be key concerns that will determine the success of the project.

Spread over nearly 600 acres, Dharavi houses thousands of businesses and industries, with the redevelopment project aiming to improve living conditions while protecting its economic ecosystem.

Singapore, Hong Kong-like Dharavi: Maharashtra govt unveils global vision for mega redevelopment project

Mumbai: Mumbai is set to enter a new era of urban mobility, with the foundation stone laid for India’s first AI-driven pod taxi project in the city’s Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC).&nbsp;The initiative aims to tackle congestion and improve last-mile connectivity in one of the country’s busiest commercial hubs.&nbsp;The project is being spearheaded by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and is designed as a fully automated, eco-friendly transport system.&nbsp;&nbsp;The pod taxis will be driverless, battery-operated, and powered by artificial intelligence, making them a sustainable alternative to traditional modes of transport.&nbsp;Each pod is expected to accommodate up to six passengers and operate at speeds of up to 40 kmph. With pods arriving at intervals as short as 15 seconds, the system promises minimal waiting time for commuters.&nbsp;&nbsp;A key feature of the service is its on-demand model—pods will halt only at stations selected by passengers, bypassing others to ensure faster and more efficient travel.&nbsp;In its first phase, the project will cover a 3.36-kilometre stretch connecting Kurla to Bandra East, passing through key junctions such as LBS Marg and Kalanagar.&nbsp;&nbsp;The first phase is expected to be completed in the next ten months.&nbsp;&nbsp;The larger plan envisions expanding the network to 8.85 kilometres with a total of 22 stations, significantly enhancing connectivity across the BKC area.&nbsp;The pod taxi network will also be integrated with major metro lines, including Metro Line 3 and Line 2B, creating a seamless multi-modal transport ecosystem for daily commuters.&nbsp;Officials estimate that by 2031, the system could serve over one lakh passengers easing traffic congestion and reducing travel time within BKC. The project will be developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, ensuring that there is no direct financial burden on the state government.&nbsp;Speaking on the development, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described the project as a “game-changer” for Mumbai, stating that it places the city on the global map of next-generation, smart transport solutions.

The pod taxi network will be integrated with major metro lines, including Metro Line 3 and Line 2B, creating a seamless multi-modal transport ecosystem for daily commuters. The larger plan envisions expanding the network to 8.85 kilometres with a total of 22 stations.

Mumbai: Mumbai is set to enter a new era of urban mobility, with the foundation stone laid for India’s first AI-driven pod taxi project in the city’s Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC). The initiative aims to tackle congestion and improve last-mile connectivity in one of the country’s busiest commercial hubs. The project is being spearheaded by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and is designed as a fully automated, eco-friendly transport system. The pod taxis will be driverless, battery-operated, and powered by artificial intelligence, making them a sustainable alternative to traditional modes of transport. Each pod is expected to accommodate up to six passengers and operate at speeds of up to 40 kmph. With pods arriving at intervals as short as 15 seconds, the system promises minimal waiting time for commuters. A key feature of the service is its on-demand model—pods will halt only at stations selected by passengers, bypassing others to ensure faster and more efficient travel. In its first phase, the project will cover a 3.36-kilometre stretch connecting Kurla to Bandra East, passing through key junctions such as LBS Marg and Kalanagar. The first phase is expected to be completed in the next ten months. The larger plan envisions expanding the network to 8.85 kilometres with a total of 22 stations, significantly enhancing connectivity across the BKC area. The pod taxi network will also be integrated with major metro lines, including Metro Line 3 and Line 2B, creating a seamless multi-modal transport ecosystem for daily commuters. Officials estimate that by 2031, the system could serve over one lakh passengers easing traffic congestion and reducing travel time within BKC. The project will be developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, ensuring that there is no direct financial burden on the state government. Speaking on the development, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described the project as a “game-changer” for Mumbai, stating that it places the city on the global map of next-generation, smart transport solutions.

The pod taxi network will be integrated with major metro lines, including Metro Line 3 and Line 2B, creating a seamless multi-modal transport ecosystem for daily commuters. The larger plan envisions expanding the network to 8.85 kilometres with a total of 22 stations.

Mumbai pushes for 10-month rollout of AI-driven pod taxi in BKC

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Budget 2026–27 presented by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the state Assembly on Friday focused on farmer relief, major infrastructure expansion, housing, and continued welfare schemes, while laying out an ambitious economic vision for the state.&nbsp;Presenting the budget, Fadnavis said the government’s priority is to strengthen rural livelihoods while accelerating urban development projects across Maharashtra.&nbsp;&nbsp;One of the biggest announcements was a farm loan waiver of up to Rs 2 lakh, aimed at providing relief to farmers struggling with debt.&nbsp;&nbsp;The government also announced incentives of up to Rs 50,000 for farmers who regularly repay their crop loans, in a bid to encourage financial discipline in the agricultural sector.&nbsp;The budget also reaffirmed the continuation of the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, a flagship welfare scheme that provides financial assistance to eligible women aged 21 to 65 from low-income families. While the scheme will continue, no increase in the monthly assistance amount was announced this year.&nbsp;Infrastructure development remained a major focus, particularly in the Mumbai metropolitan region. The government outlined several projects including the Sewri–Worli connector, expected to be completed by September 2026, and the Bandra–Versova Sea Link, which is targeted for completion by 2028. Expansion of the Mumbai Metro network was also highlighted as a key priority to improve urban mobility.&nbsp;In the housing sector, the state announced plans to redevelop nearly 20 lakh slum homes in Mumbai and build 10 lakh affordable houses across Maharashtra. The government also proposed the development of a 130-acre startup and innovation hub in Wadala, aimed at boosting entrepreneurship and attracting new investments.&nbsp;Rural infrastructure was another key area of focus, with the government planning to connect 1,000 villages with concrete roads and expand rural road networks across the state.&nbsp;The budget also outlined a long-term vision for economic growth, with the state government aiming to transform Maharashtra into a $5-trillion economy by 2047.

One of the biggest announcements by CM Devendra Fadnavis in Maharashtra Budget was farm loan waiver of up to Rs 2 lakh, aimed at providing relief to farmers struggling with debt. The government also announced incentives of up to Rs 50,000 for farmers who regularly repay their crop loans.

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Budget 2026–27 presented by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the state Assembly on Friday focused on farmer relief, major infrastructure expansion, housing, and continued welfare schemes, while laying out an ambitious economic vision for the state. Presenting the budget, Fadnavis said the government’s priority is to strengthen rural livelihoods while accelerating urban development projects across Maharashtra. One of the biggest announcements was a farm loan waiver of up to Rs 2 lakh, aimed at providing relief to farmers struggling with debt. The government also announced incentives of up to Rs 50,000 for farmers who regularly repay their crop loans, in a bid to encourage financial discipline in the agricultural sector. The budget also reaffirmed the continuation of the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, a flagship welfare scheme that provides financial assistance to eligible women aged 21 to 65 from low-income families. While the scheme will continue, no increase in the monthly assistance amount was announced this year. Infrastructure development remained a major focus, particularly in the Mumbai metropolitan region. The government outlined several projects including the Sewri–Worli connector, expected to be completed by September 2026, and the Bandra–Versova Sea Link, which is targeted for completion by 2028. Expansion of the Mumbai Metro network was also highlighted as a key priority to improve urban mobility. In the housing sector, the state announced plans to redevelop nearly 20 lakh slum homes in Mumbai and build 10 lakh affordable houses across Maharashtra. The government also proposed the development of a 130-acre startup and innovation hub in Wadala, aimed at boosting entrepreneurship and attracting new investments. Rural infrastructure was another key area of focus, with the government planning to connect 1,000 villages with concrete roads and expand rural road networks across the state. The budget also outlined a long-term vision for economic growth, with the state government aiming to transform Maharashtra into a $5-trillion economy by 2047.

One of the biggest announcements by CM Devendra Fadnavis in Maharashtra Budget was a farm loan waiver of up to Rs 2 lakh, aimed at providing relief to farmers struggling with debt. The government also announced incentives of up to Rs 50,000 for farmers who regularly repay their crop loans.

Loan waiver for farmers, big infra boost: What the Maharashtra Budget 2026 promises

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday informed the state legislature that more than 90 per cent of people reported missing in Maharashtra are eventually traced by the police, underlining the efforts taken by law enforcement agencies to address one of the state’s persistent social concerns.Responding to questions in the assembly, Fadnavis said that while the police have been able to locate the majority of missing individuals, a small percentage of cases still remain unresolved.According to the Chief Minister, the government is aiming to push the tracing rate even higher to around 96 per cent through improved coordination, technology and specialised search operations.Missing persons cases — particularly those involving women and children — have remained a major concern in a large and densely populated state like Maharashtra.Every year, thousands of people are reported missing across cities and rural districts, prompting police to strengthen investigation mechanisms and monitoring systems.Government data shared in the legislature indicates that tens of thousands of women and girls were reported missing in the past few years.According to the Government data, in 2025, over 45,000 women had gone missing out of which approximately 36,000 were traced. In case of minor girls, 12,000 had gone missing out of which 10,000 were traced.While most were eventually traced and reunited with their families, officials admit that the cases that remain unresolved continue to worry authorities and families alike.Police officials say many missing cases are linked to domestic disputes, migration for work, family conflicts or teenagers leaving home without informing their parents. However, authorities also remain alert to the possibility of more serious crimes such as trafficking or exploitation, especially in cases involving minors.To improve recovery rates, the Maharashtra Police have launched targeted initiatives such as Operation Muskaan and Operation Shodh, which focus on locating missing children and women across the state. These operations involve coordinated searches, verification of shelters and institutions, and the use of digital databases to track individuals across districts.Special Missing Persons Cells have also been created at several police stations, often led by women officers, to ensure that cases receive immediate attention and follow-up. Senior police officials regularly review these investigations to prevent delays.Experts say the first few days after a person goes missing are crucial for locating them safely. Quick reporting by families, efficient police response and better inter-state coordination can significantly improve recovery chances.

Every year, thousands of people are reported missing across cities and rural districts, prompting police to strengthen investigation mechanisms and monitoring systems.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday informed the state legislature that more than 90 per cent of people reported missing in Maharashtra are eventually traced by the police, underlining the efforts taken by law enforcement agencies to address one of the state’s persistent social concerns. Responding to questions in the assembly, Fadnavis said that while the police have been able to locate the majority of missing individuals, a small percentage of cases still remain unresolved. According to the Chief Minister, the government is aiming to push the tracing rate even higher to around 96 per cent through improved coordination, technology and specialised search operations. Missing persons cases — particularly those involving women and children — have remained a major concern in a large and densely populated state like Maharashtra. Every year, thousands of people are reported missing across cities and rural districts, prompting police to strengthen investigation mechanisms and monitoring systems. Government data shared in the legislature indicates that tens of thousands of women and girls were reported missing in the past few years. According to the Government data, in 2025, over 45,000 women had gone missing out of which approximately 36,000 were traced. In case of minor girls, 12,000 had gone missing out of which 10,000 were traced. While most were eventually traced and reunited with their families, officials admit that the cases that remain unresolved continue to worry authorities and families alike. Police officials say many missing cases are linked to domestic disputes, migration for work, family conflicts or teenagers leaving home without informing their parents. However, authorities also remain alert to the possibility of more serious crimes such as trafficking or exploitation, especially in cases involving minors. To improve recovery rates, the Maharashtra Police have launched targeted initiatives such as Operation Muskaan and Operation Shodh, which focus on locating missing children and women across the state. These operations involve coordinated searches, verification of shelters and institutions, and the use of digital databases to track individuals across districts. Special Missing Persons Cells have also been created at several police stations, often led by women officers, to ensure that cases receive immediate attention and follow-up. Senior police officials regularly review these investigations to prevent delays. Experts say the first few days after a person goes missing are crucial for locating them safely. Quick reporting by families, efficient police response and better inter-state coordination can significantly improve recovery chances.

Every year, thousands of people are reported missing across cities and rural districts, prompting police to strengthen investigation mechanisms and monitoring systems.

Maharashtra Police trace 9 out of 10 missing persons, government tells assembly

Devendra Fadnavis is only the second Chief Minister after Vasantrao Naik to complete his full term in office. His rise from being the Mayor of Nagpur to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra is a telling commentary on how meritocracy rules the wealthiest state in India, which also happens to be the second most populous state and the third-largest in terms of area. Even the first non-Congress government in the state, led by the Shiv Sena from 1995-1999 (the BJP was part of the coalition, but a junior partner then) saw two Chief Ministers, with Manohar Joshi being replaced by Narayan Rane, in the last year.

His achievements include the "Right to Services" bill, with 'Aaple Sarkar' online portal providing a total of 403 online services that benefitted over 14 lakh citizens; the 'Atal Maha Aarogya' camp that has proven beneficial to 24 lakh patients in the state; starting work on Metro routes of which 298km is in various stages of construction. He took major steps to decongest Mumbai, making Mumbai a "WiFi City" with over 1700 hotspots, installed over 5000 CCTV cameras to make the city safer, made 1052 police stations online, closing 11 toll nakas in the state and extended discounts to light motor vehicles on 52 toll nakas. Speeding up the process for the international airport in Navi Mumbai, he initiated projects to set up as many as 10 airports in the state in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.&nbsp;

Fadnavis also ensured better connectivity, the allocation of funds for the Mumbai-Delhi industrial corridor, securing clearances for the "Chhatrapati Shivaji" sea memorial and the "Babasaheb Ambedkar Memorial" at Indu Mills, achieving the digitisation process of as many as 66458 schools, and ensured that 2750 MW of power capacity is added. He sanctioned 10 smart city projects, started work on the Bandra-Virar-CST-Panvel elevated railway corridor, kickstarted the 712 km Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi super expressway which will connect 24 districts of the state and set up the first automatic weather station in Dongargaon in Nagpur in 2017.&nbsp;

These are only some of the sterling examples of how Devendra Fadnavis has made the "Minimum Government, Maximum Governance" model successful, his abiding work ethic. Most importantly, the rate of conviction for crimes has gone up from 9% to a staggering 52% and cyber labs have been set up in all districts of the state.

The pro-farmer Fadnavis government, which announced a farm loan write-off package of Rs 34,022 crore in June 2017 for all farmers with a Rs 1.5 lakh debt, has spent Rs 50,000 crore for farmer welfare in the last five years, as comparison to the less than Rs 20,000 crore in 15 years of the corrupt Congress-NCP rule. After 151 talukas were found affected by drought earlier this year, Fadnavis assured that more than 52 lakh farmers have received compensation of Rs 2700 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Crop Insurance Scheme. With a view to providing weather-related information and digital kiosks in all gram panchayats to farmers in real-time, the project "Mahavedh" has been made operational in all 2060 revenue circles in the state.

Under the 'Jalyukta Shivar Yojana', one of the biggest water rejuvenation initiatives in recent times, more than 16,000 villages across the state have become water neutral. Over six lakh works have been completed, which has created a water storage capacity of over 26.90 lakh TCM. Also, under the 'Galmukt Dharan Ani Galyukt Shivar' (salt-free dams and fertile farms) scheme, 3.23 crore cubic metres of silt has been removed from 5270 reservoirs, which benefitted as many as 31150 farmers. The 'Farm Pond on Demand' scheme has received the Prime Minister's award as one of the 10 best innovative initiatives, with over 1.37 lakh farm ponds having been created under the scheme. Apart from economic progress, one of the high points of the Fadnavis government is undoubtedly the sheer efficacy with which it passed the Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC) bill, to live up to the promises made to the Maratha community. That Fadnavis himself is a Brahmin and still skillfully resolved the contentious Maratha issue, makes this achievement even more commendable, testifying him as political savvy in matters of realpolitik. The SEBC Act provides for 12% and 13% reservation in education and government jobs.

The 'Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Amrut Ahaar Yojana' is being implemented on a war footing in tribal areas to tackle the problem of malnutrition and anaemia and has already benefitted over 1.59 lakh pregnant women and lactating mothers. Maharashtra bagged the third rank in health index throughout the country. As part of the Bharat Net, Maha Net, which has already reached out to over 60% of Maharashtra's targetted villages, is a classic example of how robust connectivity will empower every single citizen to leverage on digital governance and digital economy. The Employment Guarantee Scheme, too, has been a huge success. Around 36.54 lakh families have benefitted through Women's saving groups.&nbsp;

To achieve the goal of 'Affordable Housing for All by 2022', more than 10.5 lakh beneficiaries have been registered under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural) and 7.65 lakh houses have been built. Further, nearly 30000 km of rural roads are being upgraded in rural areas under the "Chief Minister Gram Sadak Yojana", with 8900 km of works being completed.

To sum it up, the spectacular "Maha Janadesh Yatra" by CM Devendra Fadnavis, which covered a distance of 4232 km, spread over 104 rallies and almost all the 36 districts in the state, was not merely a show of strength or a measure of the BJP-led government's outstanding "performance report card" in the last five years. The "Yatra" has signalled, in more ways than one, the unbridled popularity and excellent mass connect that Chief Minister Fadnavis enjoys, cutting across caste, creed, social, gender and demographic barriers if any.

&nbsp;(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/report-the-fadnavis-juggernaut-2797311">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) &nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Devendra Fadnavis is only the second Chief Minister after Vasantrao Naik to complete his full term in office. His rise from being the Mayor of Nagpur to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra is a telling commentary on how meritocracy rules the wealthiest state in India, which also happens to be the second most populous state and the third-largest in terms of area.

Devendra Fadnavis is only the second Chief Minister after Vasantrao Naik to complete his full term in office. His rise from being the Mayor of Nagpur to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra is a telling commentary on how meritocracy rules the wealthiest state in India, which also happens to be the second most populous state and the third-largest in terms of area. Even the first non-Congress government in the state, led by the Shiv Sena from 1995-1999 (the BJP was part of the coalition, but a junior partner then) saw two Chief Ministers, with Manohar Joshi being replaced by Narayan Rane, in the last year. His achievements include the "Right to Services" bill, with 'Aaple Sarkar' online portal providing a total of 403 online services that benefitted over 14 lakh citizens; the 'Atal Maha Aarogya' camp that has proven beneficial to 24 lakh patients in the state; starting work on Metro routes of which 298km is in various stages of construction. He took major steps to decongest Mumbai, making Mumbai a "WiFi City" with over 1700 hotspots, installed over 5000 CCTV cameras to make the city safer, made 1052 police stations online, closing 11 toll nakas in the state and extended discounts to light motor vehicles on 52 toll nakas. Speeding up the process for the international airport in Navi Mumbai, he initiated projects to set up as many as 10 airports in the state in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Fadnavis also ensured better connectivity, the allocation of funds for the Mumbai-Delhi industrial corridor, securing clearances for the "Chhatrapati Shivaji" sea memorial and the "Babasaheb Ambedkar Memorial" at Indu Mills, achieving the digitisation process of as many as 66458 schools, and ensured that 2750 MW of power capacity is added. He sanctioned 10 smart city projects, started work on the Bandra-Virar-CST-Panvel elevated railway corridor, kickstarted the 712 km Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi super expressway which will connect 24 districts of the state and set up the first automatic weather station in Dongargaon in Nagpur in 2017. These are only some of the sterling examples of how Devendra Fadnavis has made the "Minimum Government, Maximum Governance" model successful, his abiding work ethic. Most importantly, the rate of conviction for crimes has gone up from 9% to a staggering 52% and cyber labs have been set up in all districts of the state. The pro-farmer Fadnavis government, which announced a farm loan write-off package of Rs 34,022 crore in June 2017 for all farmers with a Rs 1.5 lakh debt, has spent Rs 50,000 crore for farmer welfare in the last five years, as comparison to the less than Rs 20,000 crore in 15 years of the corrupt Congress-NCP rule. After 151 talukas were found affected by drought earlier this year, Fadnavis assured that more than 52 lakh farmers have received compensation of Rs 2700 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Crop Insurance Scheme. With a view to providing weather-related information and digital kiosks in all gram panchayats to farmers in real-time, the project "Mahavedh" has been made operational in all 2060 revenue circles in the state. Under the 'Jalyukta Shivar Yojana', one of the biggest water rejuvenation initiatives in recent times, more than 16,000 villages across the state have become water neutral. Over six lakh works have been completed, which has created a water storage capacity of over 26.90 lakh TCM. Also, under the 'Galmukt Dharan Ani Galyukt Shivar' (salt-free dams and fertile farms) scheme, 3.23 crore cubic metres of silt has been removed from 5270 reservoirs, which benefitted as many as 31150 farmers. The 'Farm Pond on Demand' scheme has received the Prime Minister's award as one of the 10 best innovative initiatives, with over 1.37 lakh farm ponds having been created under the scheme. Apart from economic progress, one of the high points of the Fadnavis government is undoubtedly the sheer efficacy with which it passed the Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC) bill, to live up to the promises made to the Maratha community. That Fadnavis himself is a Brahmin and still skillfully resolved the contentious Maratha issue, makes this achievement even more commendable, testifying him as political savvy in matters of realpolitik. The SEBC Act provides for 12% and 13% reservation in education and government jobs. The 'Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Amrut Ahaar Yojana' is being implemented on a war footing in tribal areas to tackle the problem of malnutrition and anaemia and has already benefitted over 1.59 lakh pregnant women and lactating mothers. Maharashtra bagged the third rank in health index throughout the country. As part of the Bharat Net, Maha Net, which has already reached out to over 60% of Maharashtra's targetted villages, is a classic example of how robust connectivity will empower every single citizen to leverage on digital governance and digital economy. The Employment Guarantee Scheme, too, has been a huge success. Around 36.54 lakh families have benefitted through Women's saving groups. To achieve the goal of 'Affordable Housing for All by 2022', more than 10.5 lakh beneficiaries have been registered under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural) and 7.65 lakh houses have been built. Further, nearly 30000 km of rural roads are being upgraded in rural areas under the "Chief Minister Gram Sadak Yojana", with 8900 km of works being completed. To sum it up, the spectacular "Maha Janadesh Yatra" by CM Devendra Fadnavis, which covered a distance of 4232 km, spread over 104 rallies and almost all the 36 districts in the state, was not merely a show of strength or a measure of the BJP-led government's outstanding "performance report card" in the last five years. The "Yatra" has signalled, in more ways than one, the unbridled popularity and excellent mass connect that Chief Minister Fadnavis enjoys, cutting across caste, creed, social, gender and demographic barriers if any. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Devendra Fadnavis enjoys unbridled popularity and excellent mass connect

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday dismissed NCP chief Sharad Pawar's recent accusations of BJP luring rival party legislators, and asked the senior leader to instead introspect within his party.

National Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday alleged that the Central government is pressuring leaders of opposition parties to join the BJP.

"A lot of NCP and Congress legislators are willing to join BJP but we will only induct selected few in the party. The people, against whom ED or any other inquiry is ongoing, will not be taken in the party. We do not want to invite anyone or run behind anyone, people are themselves coming to BJP," Fadnavis told reporters here.

Fadnavis also rejected Pawar's accusation of BJP misusing probe agencies for threatening politicians and said, "BJP has never indulged in politics of pressure. In the last five years, a lot of troubled sugar factories have been helped by the government and state bank. The list is long but in return of the same no one was asked to join the party. Pawar Sahab must introspect within his party."

Fadnavis's reaction comes after Pawar on Sunday alleged that the Central government is pressuring leaders of opposition parties to join the BJP.

Pawar went on to accuse that the BJP is misusing premier probe agencies to threaten politicians of various parties.

"Central Government is misusing their power before elections (Maharashtra), pressuring those leaders who are not willing to join BJP. This is not limited to Maharashtra, it has happened everywhere. Maharashtra Chief Minister and his cabinet ministers have been involved in calling many leaders. On the other side, we are getting complaints from many that some agencies are being used like ED, CBI and state government's ACB. These agencies are being used to threaten the public representatives," he said while addressing the media in Mumbai.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday dismissed NCP chief Sharad Pawar's recent accusations of BJP luring rival party legislators, and asked the senior leader to instead introspect within his party.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday dismissed NCP chief Sharad Pawar's recent accusations of BJP luring rival party legislators, and asked the senior leader to instead introspect within his party. National Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday alleged that the Central government is pressuring leaders of opposition parties to join the BJP. "A lot of NCP and Congress legislators are willing to join BJP but we will only induct selected few in the party. The people, against whom ED or any other inquiry is ongoing, will not be taken in the party. We do not want to invite anyone or run behind anyone, people are themselves coming to BJP," Fadnavis told reporters here. Fadnavis also rejected Pawar's accusation of BJP misusing probe agencies for threatening politicians and said, "BJP has never indulged in politics of pressure. In the last five years, a lot of troubled sugar factories have been helped by the government and state bank. The list is long but in return of the same no one was asked to join the party. Pawar Sahab must introspect within his party." Fadnavis's reaction comes after Pawar on Sunday alleged that the Central government is pressuring leaders of opposition parties to join the BJP. Pawar went on to accuse that the BJP is misusing premier probe agencies to threaten politicians of various parties. "Central Government is misusing their power before elections (Maharashtra), pressuring those leaders who are not willing to join BJP. This is not limited to Maharashtra, it has happened everywhere. Maharashtra Chief Minister and his cabinet ministers have been involved in calling many leaders. On the other side, we are getting complaints from many that some agencies are being used like ED, CBI and state government's ACB. These agencies are being used to threaten the public representatives," he said while addressing the media in Mumbai.

BJP never indulges in politics of pressure, Pawar must introspect: Fadnavis