Mumbai, Jan 11 (NationPress) The BJP has officially appointed Ravindra Chavan, a former minister and party representative from the Dombivli Assembly constituency, as the new working president of the Maharashtra unit on Saturday.
Chavan, who was previously designated as the in-charge of the Sangathan Parv campaign in December last year aimed at broadening the party's membership in the state, will assume this role at a pivotal moment as the BJP prepares for upcoming local and civic body elections, especially following the MahaYuti's remarkable victory in the Assembly election.
The appointment was made by BJP President JP Nadda just ahead of the state BJP’s gathering at Shirdi on Sunday, which is set to celebrate its impressive performance in the Assembly elections and outline strategies for the forthcoming local and civic body elections.
By instating Chavan as the working president, the BJP has signaled that the current state unit Chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule, who serves as the revenue minister, will retain his position until after the local and civic body elections. Bawankule played a significant role in the party's efforts during both the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
Chavan, who held the position of public works minister under the Eknath Shinde-led council of ministers, was not included in the cabinet expansion led by Devendra Fadnavis on December 15. This strategic decision was made to assign Chavan with organizational responsibilities, leveraging his expertise to strengthen the party's presence in the state.
A close ally of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Chavan's electoral management skills greatly contributed to the BJP's victory in the Ratnagiri Sindudurg seat during the Lok Sabha elections, and subsequently, the party secured a significant number of seats in the Konkan region, which was previously dominated by the united Shiv Sena.
Chavan's new role coincides with the BJP's goal to recruit 1.5 crore members in Maharashtra. The Mahila Morcha and Yuva Morcha are both targeting the registration of 25 lakh members each across the state, while other party fronts aim to register 5 lakh members each, and party cells are tasked with enrolling at least two lakh members.
This push for increased membership is part of the BJP’s strategy to secure a majority and independently govern in Maharashtra by 2029. The party is currently working on solidifying its approach for Shat Pratishat (achieving a majority and forming a government without relying on allies).
