CM Fadnavis congratulates 5 Maharashtra MPs on Sansad Ratna Award
Synopsis
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on 24 May 2026 publicly congratulated five Mahayuti MPs — three from BJP and two from Shiv Sena — on their selection for the Sansad Ratna Award, citing their effective participation in parliamentary proceedings and articulation of public issues.
Key Takeaways
Five Maharashtra MPs — Dr.
Hemant Savara, Medha Kulkarni, Smita Wagh (BJP) and Dr.
Shrikant Shinde, Naresh Mhaske (Shiv Sena) — were selected for the Sansad Ratna Award .
CM Devendra Fadnavis extended congratulations via X on 24 May 2026 , praising their parliamentary contributions.
The Sansad Ratna Award has been given annually since 2010 to recognise outstanding legislative performance by Indian MPs.
The recognition spans both BJP and Shiv Sena legislators, reflecting the breadth of the Mahayuti coalition's parliamentary engagement.
Fadnavis described the honour as 'truly inspiring' and wished all five MPs well for the road ahead.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday, 24 May 2026 extended congratulations to five Members of Parliament from Maharashtra — including legislators from both the BJP and the alliance partner Shiv Sena — on their selection for the Sansad Ratna Award, recognising their outstanding contributions to parliamentary work.
Context
Posting in Marathi on X, Fadnavis congratulated BJP MPs Dr. Hemant Savara, Medha Kulkarni, and Smita Wagh, along with Shiv Sena MPs Dr. Shrikant Shinde and Naresh Mhaske — all part of the ruling Mahayuti coalition in Maharashtra. His message, translated from Marathi, read: 'मनःपूर्वक अभिनंदन!' ('Heartfelt congratulations!'), adding that their 'effective articulation of public issues and notable contribution to parliamentary proceedings is truly inspiring.'
The post tagged all five MPs directly and carried the hashtags #SansadRatnaAward and #ParliamentOfIndia, signalling the Chief Minister's deliberate effort to amplify the recognition publicly.
Policy Backdrop
The Sansad Ratna Award was instituted in 2010 to honour Members of Parliament based on their participation in debates, questions raised, and overall legislative contributions. The award is presented annually and is widely regarded as one of the more credible independent assessments of an MP's parliamentary performance.
The recognition cuts across party lines, and its selection process draws on data from parliamentary records. For Maharashtra's Mahayuti bloc, having five MPs recognised in a single cycle underscores the alliance's visible engagement within the Lok Sabha.
Stakeholders and Impact
Shiv Sena MP Dr. Shrikant Shinde, son of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, is among the more prominent names on the list, and his inclusion alongside BJP legislators signals cohesion within the Mahayuti alliance. The public acknowledgement by Fadnavis — himself a senior BJP figure — of a Shiv Sena MP's legislative merit is consistent with the coalition's ongoing effort to project unity.
For constituents across Maharashtra, the award serves as a marker of how effectively their elected representatives have engaged with national legislative business. Medha Kulkarni, Smita Wagh, Hemant Savara, and Naresh Mhaske represent diverse constituencies, and their recognition adds a cross-regional dimension to the honour.
What's Next
The formal Sansad Ratna Award ceremony date has not been announced publicly as yet. The awarding body is expected to release individual MP performance metrics alongside the ceremony, providing a detailed breakdown of each recipient's parliamentary activity. Maharashtra's political establishment will likely use the occasion for further public outreach ahead of future electoral cycles.
Point of View
Addressed to MPs from both BJP and Shiv Sena, is a calibrated act of coalition management — reinforcing Mahayuti's unity at a time when inter-party optics within the alliance remain under scrutiny. The Chief Minister's choice to amplify an independent parliamentary performance award, rather than a government scheme, subtly pivots the narrative toward legislative credibility and constituency service. This pattern of state leaders endorsing central-level recognition for allied MPs is becoming a standard tool in India's multi-party governance playbook. It also positions the Mahayuti bloc as legislatively active ahead of future electoral cycles in Maharashtra.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sansad Ratna Award?
The Sansad Ratna Award is an annual recognition instituted in 2010 to honour Members of Parliament in India for outstanding performance, including participation in debates, questions raised, and overall legislative contributions.
Which Maharashtra MPs won the Sansad Ratna Award in 2026?
Five Maharashtra MPs were selected: BJP's Dr. Hemant Savara, Medha Kulkarni, and Smita Wagh, along with Shiv Sena's Dr. Shrikant Shinde and Naresh Mhaske, all part of the Mahayuti alliance.
Why did CM Devendra Fadnavis congratulate Shiv Sena MPs for the award?
Shiv Sena is a key partner in Maharashtra's ruling Mahayuti coalition alongside BJP, and Fadnavis publicly recognising Shiv Sena MPs reflects the alliance's emphasis on coalition unity and shared legislative achievement.
Who is Dr. Shrikant Shinde?
Dr. Shrikant Shinde is a Shiv Sena Member of Parliament from Maharashtra and a prominent figure in the Mahayuti alliance, also known as the son of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
When is the Sansad Ratna Award 2026 ceremony?
The formal ceremony date for the Sansad Ratna Award 2026 has not been officially announced yet; the awarding body is expected to release details along with individual MP performance metrics.
