‘CJP Is Congress Jitao Program’: Fadnavis Attacks Opposition’s New Strategy

Pune, 1st September 2026: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday alleged that the Opposition had changed its political strategy from an ideological battle to an issue-based campaign after failing to challenge the BJP directly on ideology.

Speaking at the Maharashtra Pradesh BJP executive meeting in Pune, Fadnavis alleged that organisations that worked behind the “Bharat Jodo” campaign during the Lok Sabha elections were now operating under a new platform called CJP, which he described as the “Congress Jitao Program”.

“Do not consider CJP to be a small organisation. CJP means Congress Jitao Program. The four or five people who are visible at the forefront have 180 organisations from the Bharat Jodo network behind them. These are the same organisations that created the narrative during the Lok Sabha elections. They have now entered the field under a new name,” Fadnavis alleged.

Fadnavis said the BJP had faced what he termed a “fake narrative” during the Lok Sabha elections but subsequently countered it by taking its own narrative directly to voters. He claimed that the strategy helped the party secure a major victory in the Assembly elections.

“Now the fake narrative factory has started again. But the method has changed. The Congress knows that it cannot fight us directly,” he said.

According to Fadnavis, the Opposition is now attempting to target the government by raising specific issues, including the condition of schools and other local problems.

Fadnavis said the BJP would respond to the Opposition’s new strategy.
“The fight is no longer about ideology. It is now a fight over issues. They tried to fight us on ideology but could not succeed. Now they are talking about issues — which school is good, what is happening here and what is happening there,” he said.
Fadnavis defends Zilla Parishad schools
Referring to government schools, Fadnavis claimed that 70 to 75 per cent of Zilla Parishad schools were functioning well, while efforts were underway to improve the remaining schools.

He said several Zilla Parishad schools had improved significantly and that some were even witnessing demand for admissions.

“Many of our Zilla Parishad schools are doing very good work. Some schools even have queues for admission. But these people do not see such schools. If a new classroom has been constructed, they photograph the old classroom and show it as if the entire school is in a poor condition,” he alleged.

Fadnavis said the government would take action if genuine problems were brought to its notice. However, he alleged that some groups were selectively highlighting problems to create a negative perception of the government.

“If someone shows us a problem and it is genuine, we take action. But their intention is not that. They only want to show the empty glass,” he said.
Fadnavis attacks Congress over governance record
Fadnavis also criticised the Congress over its governance record, saying that when the Opposition questioned the BJP, people also asked the Opposition what it had done during its own tenure.

“When they ask us questions, one finger points towards us, but four fingers point towards them. The public also asks them what they have done,” he said.

Comparing the Congress’s decades in power with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 12 years in office, Fadnavis claimed that the Congress was unable to effectively answer questions about issues such as corruption and paper leaks during its tenure.

He said the Opposition’s new approach was to repeatedly raise individual issues instead of engaging in a direct political or ideological contest.
Fadnavis raises Ram temple, Kumbh Mela issues
Fadnavis further alleged that after realising that directly opposing Hindutva would not benefit it politically, the Opposition had started raising issues related to Hindu temples and religious events.

He referred to allegations concerning the Ram temple donation box and questioned the basis of claims about an alleged ₹1,800-crore scam.
He also claimed that the Kumbh Mela would be the Opposition’s next major target.

“Now their next target is the Kumbh Mela. Allegations of corruption are being made. The tenders issued so far have been awarded at rates 20 to 30 per cent lower than the estimated rates,” Fadnavis said.

He claimed that the lower tender rates had resulted in savings of up to ₹100 crore in individual tenders in some cases. He also said that a four-stage audit mechanism had been put in place for Kumbh Mela-related works.

Fadnavis concluded by accusing the Opposition of repeatedly making allegations without sufficient evidence.

“Lie, and repeat the lie forcefully, that is the Opposition’s way of working,” he said.