Devendra Fadnavis rules out Delhi move, commits to Maharashtra until 2029
Synopsis
Devendra Fadnavis publicly shut down Delhi-move speculation at a Mumbai conclave, saying he stays in Maharashtra until 2029 — but Sanjay Raut fired back the same day, claiming PM Modi and RSS circles are actively planning to bring him to the capital as a potential Deputy PM. The denial and the counterclaim on the same day make this more than routine political noise.
Key Takeaways
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on 3 September categorically ruled out a move to national politics until at least 2029 .
Fadnavis said his party and leaders will decide his role, but maintained he is not heading to Delhi for now.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut claimed on the same day that PM Modi wants Fadnavis in Delhi for a major responsibility.
Raut alleged that RSS circles are discussing appointing a key non-Cabinet leader as Deputy Prime Minister , and that person is Fadnavis.
Fadnavis said Maharashtra has reached a $660 billion economy and targets $1 trillion by 2030 at a growth rate exceeding 10 per cent .
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday, 3 September firmly dismissed speculation about a shift to national politics, stating he will remain in Maharashtra until at least 2029. Speaking at an infrastructure conclave organised by a Marathi TV channel in Mumbai, Fadnavis made clear that any change in his role rests entirely with his party leadership.
What Fadnavis Said
'My party and my leaders will decide my role. The day they decide, I will certainly go to Delhi. But as of today, it is my view that I am not going to Delhi until 2029,' the Chief Minister stated.
Addressing the persistent media chatter with a touch of humour, Fadnavis added: 'Some of my well-wishers believe that going to Delhi would be a promotion for me, while others think that if I leave, a burden will be lifted off their heads. Whether people like it or not, my leaders will keep me in Maharashtra until 2029. Every two to three months, whenever someone lacks news or wants to create hype, they send me to Delhi. I actually enjoy it.'
Sanjay Raut's Counterclaim
The denial came on the same day that Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut made a pointed counter-assertion, claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is keen to bring Fadnavis to New Delhi and assign him a significant responsibility.
'Prime Minister Modi wants to bring Devendra Fadnavis to Delhi and assign him a significant responsibility. This much I know for a fact,' Raut told reporters.
Raut further claimed that deliberations are reportedly underway within Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) circles regarding the appointment of a key leader — currently outside the Union Cabinet — as Deputy Prime Minister. 'The RSS believes that the individual slated to be PM Modi's successor in the Cabinet should be positioned in the role of Deputy Prime Minister — and as far as I know, that person is currently not in Delhi,' Raut said.
Maharashtra's $1 Trillion Economy Target
Separately, Fadnavis used the conclave to outline his economic vision for the state, noting that Maharashtra is the closest among all Indian states to achieving a $1 trillion economy, having already reached $660 billion in economic size.
He said the state's current growth rate of 8.8 per cent needs to cross the 10 per cent mark to meet the trillion-dollar target within the decade. 'If we maintain a sustained growth rate, we will undoubtedly become a $1 trillion economy by 2030,' Fadnavis said.
What This Signals
The back-and-forth between Fadnavis's denial and Raut's claims reflects the ongoing jostling within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies over succession narratives at the national level. Notably, this is not the first time Fadnavis has been linked to a Delhi posting — similar speculation surfaced ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and again after the Maharashtra assembly results. His repeated, emphatic denials have done little to quiet the rumours, suggesting the political undercurrents run deeper than public statements acknowledge.
With Maharashtra's next assembly election due in 2029, Fadnavis's public commitment to the state also serves as a signal to the ruling Mahayuti alliance that he intends to lead its campaign.
Point of View
The story gains another news cycle, which itself signals demand for his profile at the national level. Raut's intervention is calculated: by invoking RSS deliberations and a Deputy PM narrative, he injects uncertainty into Maharashtra's ruling coalition ahead of 2029. The real question mainstream coverage sidesteps is whether the BJP's central leadership has an interest in keeping Fadnavis in Mumbai as a proven vote-getter, or pulling him to Delhi where the succession arithmetic is far more complex. Maharashtra's trillion-dollar economy pitch, delivered in the same breath as the political denial, suggests Fadnavis is framing his own legacy — and that framing is squarely state-focused for now.
NationPress
3 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Devendra Fadnavis move to Delhi for national politics?
Fadnavis said on 3 September that he will not move to Delhi until at least 2029, and that any change in his role will be decided by his party leadership. He made the statement at an infrastructure conclave in Mumbai.
What did Sanjay Raut claim about Fadnavis and Delhi?
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut claimed that PM Modi wants to bring Fadnavis to Delhi and assign him a significant responsibility. Raut also alleged that RSS circles are discussing making a key non-Cabinet leader the Deputy Prime Minister, and that person is Fadnavis.
What is Maharashtra's economic target under Fadnavis?
Fadnavis stated that Maharashtra aims to become a $1 trillion economy by 2030. The state has already reached $660 billion and currently grows at 8.8 per cent, but needs to cross 10 per cent to meet the target on time.
Why does speculation about Fadnavis moving to Delhi keep recurring?
According to Fadnavis himself, speculation about a Delhi move resurfaces every two to three months, often tied to political news cycles. His repeated denials and the persistence of the rumours reflect his growing stature within the BJP nationally.
Who is Sanjay Raut and why does his claim matter?
Sanjay Raut is a Rajya Sabha MP and a senior leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), the opposition faction led by Uddhav Thackeray. His claims about RSS deliberations and a potential Deputy PM appointment carry political weight as they could unsettle the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra.
