Fadnavis as next Union Education Minister? Raut doubles down despite CM's denial
Synopsis
Sanjay Raut is doubling down on a claim that could reshape Maharashtra's political arithmetic: that CM Devendra Fadnavis is headed to Delhi as Union Education Minister, regardless of Fadnavis's denials. Wrapped inside that claim is a sweeping attack on RSS-influenced education policy and a reminder that in BJP's power structure, individual choice rarely overrides central command.
Key Takeaways
Sanjay Raut on 27 July insisted Devendra Fadnavis will be the next Union Education Minister , despite Fadnavis's public denial.
Raut argued the decision lies with PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah , not Fadnavis, citing the 2022 Deputy CM episode as precedent.
He suggested Nandan Nilekani as an ideal choice outside the RSS ecosystem, but said Fadnavis is the name ‘on PM Modi's mind.’ Raut alleged the RSS -backed education framework has undermined institutions built since the era of Nehru , including the IITs and IIMs .
The Opposition's next protest will target Thane , the political base of DCM Eknath Shinde .
Raut said the Opposition will question the government in Parliament over the alleged police crackdown on student protesters.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut on Monday, 27 July reiterated his claim that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is set to be elevated as the Union Education Minister in New Delhi, brushing aside Fadnavis's firm denial of any such move. Raut made the remarks at a press conference in Mumbai, insisting the decision ultimately rests not with the Chief Minister but with the central leadership.
Raut's Core Claim
Speaking with characteristic bluntness, Raut said, “I say this with confidence, no matter how much he denies it, he will be the next Union Education Minister.” He argued that Fadnavis's own agency in such matters is limited, pointing to the 2022 episode when Fadnavis was reportedly directed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to accept the Deputy Chief Minister's post — a role Raut claimed Fadnavis did not choose voluntarily.
Raut also suggested that if PM Modi were to pick the Education Minister on merit, Fadnavis would be a fitting choice, even as he argued that someone outside the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) orbit — citing Nandan Nilekani as an example — would be better suited to overhaul the country's education system. He drew a historical parallel, noting that in 1991, then Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao brought in Dr Manmohan Singh as Finance Minister to drive economic reforms.
Attack on RSS-Backed Education Policy
Raut launched a pointed attack on what he described as an RSS-influenced education framework, alleging it has pushed the country backward over the past decade. “Children of the poor are studying under this bogus education system implemented by the RSS, while the children of political leaders and ministers are studying abroad. Make them study here first,” he said.
He contrasted the current approach with the legacy of past Prime Ministers — Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and Dr Manmohan Singh — crediting them with building world-class institutions such as the IITs and IIMs. “India's education system has been modern since Nehru's era. In the last ten years, the BJP destroyed this modern approach and pushed the nation back to ancient times,” Raut alleged.
Jab at Anti-Paper Leak Legislation
Raut also questioned the effectiveness of the proposed anti-paper leak legislation, arguing that merely raising prison sentences from one year to ten years does not address the fundamental problem of enforcement. He said the Opposition plans to raise in Parliament the issue of the alleged police crackdown on protesting students, demanding answers on who authorised the use of force and the reported mistreatment of female protesters.
Counter to Shinde's Remark and Protest Plans
Responding to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's recent “Begani Shaadi Mein Abdullah Deewana” jibe at the Opposition's participation in student protests, Raut fired back, saying Shinde “should remain quiet instead of making light of the situation.” He announced that the Opposition's next major protest, following the gathering at Shivaji Park in Mumbai, would be held in Shinde's political stronghold of Thane.
With Parliament in session and student protests simmering, the political battle over education policy — and over who will lead the ministry — is set to intensify in the days ahead.
Point of View
Not merely speculative. By publicly naming Fadnavis as a cabinet-bound figure, he seeds doubt about the CM's longevity in Maharashtra — a pressure tactic that has real consequences for coalition arithmetic in the state. The 2022 precedent he invokes is telling: Fadnavis was indeed directed to accept a demotion, which gives Raut's framing at least a structural basis. The broader attack on RSS education policy, however, conflates legitimate critiques of curriculum changes with sweeping allegations that lack granular evidence. The Opposition's pivot to Thane for its next protest is the more concrete signal here — it is a direct challenge to Shinde on home turf, and that escalation deserves as much attention as the ministerial speculation.
NationPress
27 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sanjay Raut's claim about Devendra Fadnavis?
Raut has claimed that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will soon be appointed as the Union Education Minister in New Delhi, a claim Fadnavis has publicly denied. Raut argues the decision rests with PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, not with Fadnavis himself.
How has Devendra Fadnavis responded to the speculation?
Fadnavis has firmly rejected the claim, asserting he will remain in Maharashtra politics. Raut, however, dismissed this denial, pointing to the 2022 instance where Fadnavis was reportedly directed by central leadership to accept the Deputy Chief Minister's post against his preference.
Who did Raut suggest as an ideal Education Minister?
Raut named Nandan Nilekani as an example of a suitable Education Minister — someone outside the RSS ecosystem who could modernise the system. He added, however, that if the government is already considering Fadnavis, he is a capable choice.
What did Raut say about India's education system?
Raut alleged that the RSS-backed approach has reversed a decade of progress, contrasting it with the legacy of Prime Ministers Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and Manmohan Singh, under whom institutions like the IITs and IIMs were established. He claimed poor students bear the cost of this shift while children of politicians study abroad.
What is the Opposition's next political move?
Raut announced that following a protest at Shivaji Park in Mumbai, the Opposition will hold its next major demonstration in Thane — Deputy CM Eknath Shinde's political stronghold. The Opposition also plans to raise the alleged police crackdown on student protesters in Parliament.
