CM Sai pays tribute to mentor Balkrishna Sharma on death anniversary

Key Takeaways

CM Vishnu Deo Sai paid tribute to Balkrishna Sharma (Devki Maharaj) on his death anniversary, 4 August 2026 .

Sai described Sharma as not just a senior leader but his personal political mentor and guide.

The Chief Minister said Sharma's ideals and values of public service continue to inspire him to this day.

The tribute was posted in Hindi on X, reflecting a personal rather than merely ceremonial tone.

Sai is the current Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh and a senior BJP leader.

On a day of quiet remembrance, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai paused to honour a man he calls the guiding light of his political life — Balkrishna Sharma (Devki Maharaj), on the latter's death anniversary, Tuesday, 4 August 2026.

In a heartfelt post in Hindi, CM Sai wrote: 'श्रद्धेय श्री बालकृष्ण शर्मा (देवकी महाराज) जी की पुण्यतिथि पर कोटिशः नमन एवं विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि' — offering 'a million salutations and humble tribute on the death anniversary of revered Balkrishna Sharma (Devki Maharaj).'

A mentor beyond politics

Sai's tribute goes further than the customary political condolence. He describes Sharma not merely as a senior leader but as his 'source of inspiration and guide' in political life — 'मेरे राजनीतिक जीवन के प्रेरणास्रोत और पथप्रदर्शक'. That is a specific, personal claim, placing Sharma at the centre of Sai's own political formation. The Chief Minister adds that Sharma's ideals and the values of public service 'continue to inspire me constantly even today' — a line that frames the tribute not as a backward glance but as an ongoing commitment.

Devki Maharaj's place in Chhattisgarh's political memory

Balkrishna Sharma, widely known as Devki Maharaj, was a senior political figure whose life was rooted in public service and grassroots leadership. While detailed biographical records are not available in current research, the reverence with which a sitting Chief Minister recalls his mentorship signals the depth of Sharma's influence on the political culture of the region. Such figures — who shape leaders without always occupying the highest offices themselves — are the connective tissue of any political tradition. For Sai, now leading Chhattisgarh as Chief Minister under the BJP, publicly acknowledging that lineage is both a personal act of gratitude and a statement of the values he claims to carry forward.

Point of View

Invoking Balkrishna Sharma's values of public service on the death anniversary connects his current governance to a grassroots political tradition. In the BJP's broader culture of acknowledging mentors and organisational elders, such tributes also reinforce internal party solidarity. The tribute is personal in tone but political in function.

NationPress

4 Aug 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Balkrishna Sharma Devki Maharaj?

Balkrishna Sharma, known as Devki Maharaj, was a senior political figure and mentor whom Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai credits as the guiding inspiration of his political career.

Why did CM Vishnu Deo Sai post about Devki Maharaj?

CM Sai posted a tribute on 4 August 2026 to mark the death anniversary of Balkrishna Sharma (Devki Maharaj), whom he describes as his political mentor and guide.

What did CM Sai say about Devki Maharaj?

Sai said Sharma was not merely a senior leader but his 'source of inspiration and guide' in political life, and that Sharma's ideals of public service continue to inspire him even today.

Who is Vishnu Deo Sai?

Vishnu Deo Sai is the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh and a senior BJP leader, having assumed office after the BJP's victory in the 2023 Chhattisgarh assembly elections.

What is a punyatithi?

'Punyatithi' is a Sanskrit term meaning death anniversary, observed as a day of reverence and tribute to the deceased, especially for respected elders and public figures.