Pune: Devendra Fadnavis Will Become Prime Minister of India One Day, Says Uncle Balasaheb

Pune, 3rd August 2026: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis “will become the Prime Minister of India in the future”, his uncle Balasaheb Fadnavis said on Sunday, describing the BJP leader as one of the most accomplished politicians of his generation.

Speaking at the launch of Deva Bhau, a book authored by Santosh Gajare on the chief minister’s life and political journey, Balasaheb said, “I do not think there is anyone in history who has achieved so much at such a young age, in such a short span, and so smoothly. It feel that Devendra Fadnavis will become the Prime Minister of India one day.”

Recalling the early years of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, he said he had been associated with the party since 1951 and had travelled across Maharashtra with his brother carrying homemade meals while building the organisation at a time when it had neither funds nor workers.

“There were villages where people would pelt stones at us and abuse us merely for taking the Jana Sangh’s name. But Gangadharrao never backed down. He reached places where no one else would go, even areas where the Jana Sangh had no presence. Years later, even the sarpanchs of those villages joined the BJP,” Balasaheb said.

Describing his brother as “aggressive in work but compassionate by nature”, he said Devendra Fadnavis had inherited Gangadharrao’s commitment, organisational skills, perseverance and dedication towards party workers. “Once Devendra decides to do something, he never stops until he achieves it,” he said.

Balasaheb also recounted the chief minister’s political journey, saying Fadnavis became a corporator at the age of 21, later entered the Maharashtra Assembly by defeating senior Congress leaders from constituencies considered party strongholds, and went on to win successive elections. He added that Fadnavis had excelled academically in law college before taking on organisational responsibilities in the BJP.

Addressing the event, Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil said Devendra Fadnavis’ personality extended far beyond politics and reflected a rare blend of scholarship, sensitivity, decisiveness and humanity.

“He is not just a skilled organiser and an effective administrator but also an avid reader, prolific writer, dependable friend and a devoted family man. He remembers even the smallest milestones in the lives of his colleagues and family members, making it a point to congratulate or console them at the right time. That reflects his sensitivity,” Patil said.

Patil also highlighted several initiatives undertaken under Fadnavis’ leadership, including the Jalyukt Shivar scheme, revival of pending irrigation projects, farm ponds, watershed development works, the Missing Link road project, the Atal Setu bridge and flood-control measures. He said Fadnavis took the decision on the 2017 farm loan waiver overnight and announced it at 4 am, and also undertook an in-depth legal study to ensure the Maratha reservation law could withstand judicial scrutiny.

Referring to infrastructure projects, Patil said Fadnavis immediately approved a Rs 60-crore proposal for the Kolhapur airport, enabling the Centre to release Rs 300 crore for the project. “I have closely witnessed his journey from being a corporator to becoming chief minister. His leadership is defined by study, sensitivity, decisiveness and his ability to remain connected with ordinary people,” Patil said.

BJP state general secretary Rajesh Pande said Fadnavis was known not only for his aggressive and well-informed politics but also for his sensitive and humane side. Praising author Santosh Gajare, Pande said the book had successfully captured those facets of the chief minister’s personality. He also announced that the BJP would organise 99 independent literary conferences across Maharashtra on different themes as part of the celebrations leading up to the 100th Marathi Sahitya Sammelan.

The event was attended by Balasaheb Fadnavis, Rajesh Pande, Bank of Maharashtra director Prasenjit Fadnavis, speaker Vishal Garad, publisher Santosh Dhaybar, Sandeep Kadre and several other dignitaries. Author Santosh Gajare proposed the vote of thanks and appealed to readers to read Deva Bhau to better understand the chief minister’s personality.