CM favours holding LS, Maha polls at one go

Mumbai: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is in favour of fighting assembly elections along with the Lok Sabha polls, which are scheduled to be held in April-May next year.

Mr Fadnavis has chalked out his strategy to fight both elections together. In fact, he has already given his nod to the party’s policy of holding Lok Sabha and assembly polls together during a party meeting held in New Delhi with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party president Amit Shah and chief ministers of Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) ruled states.

Initially, Mr Fadnavis was in favour of having these elections separately, as per schedule. But the political situation in the state has forced him to rethink on this issue, said BJP sources.

The Shiv Sena has already declared its intentions of going solo for the Lok Sabha and assembly polls.

The  Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) are also gearing up for elections. They have been attacking the BJP-led government and its ruling partner, the Shiv Sena is also countering the BJP on many issues.

Mr Fadnavis wanted to showcase the Maharashtra government’s performance in the elections but he requires more time for that. Previously, he felt that if the Modi government at the Centre came back to power after the Lok Sabha elections, it would boost the party’s prospects in the state. If assembly elections are held separately, Union ministers and leaders from other states would be able to campaign in the state.

But Mr Modi, Mr Shah and other senior leaders are of the view that holding both elections at the same time would save money and time of the political parties and the government.

Considering the stand taken by Sena and its election strategy, Mr Fadnavis is now in favour of fighting both elections together as per policy of party supremos, said BJP sources.