Fadnavis meets Gadkari amid speculation on CM's post

In the next 48-72 hours, one of them may go down in history as Maharashtra’s first BJP Chief Minister.

But ahead of that, Fadnavis and Gadkari on Thursday made sure that whatever happens, bonhomie must remain intact.

Media reported that, 44-year-old Devendra Fadnavis gave a courtesy call to Gadkari on Thursday morning.

After that Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Maharashtra unit chief met Gadkari at the latter’s residence in Mahal area of Nagpur.

It has been learnt that, the two leaders spent about half-an-hour together.

Though officially it has been told that Fadnavis went to extend Diwali greetings, but media reported that the two BJP leaders apparently discussed about Government formation.

According to media reports, Fadnavis still remained to be the front-runner for CM’s post.

But, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has also emerged into the scene lately with a section of BJP’s newly inducted MLAs pitching for Gadkari for the coveted-post.

It has been learnt that, BJP MLAs from Vidarbha region, where the party has posted its strongest performance ever, are lobbying for Union Minister as Chief Minister.

A group of about 40 lawmakers met union minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday, urging him to return from Delhi to lead his home state.

Gadkari's loyalists sent word to the BJP leadership that they would like the minister to be appointed chief minister of Maharashtra.

Media reported that some of the MLAs have even expressed their desire to vacate their seats to make room for Gadkari.

After which Gadkari apparently told them that it was for the party’s central leadership to decide and he will accept any responsibility given to him.

But, if media reports are to be believed, Gadkari himself not showing his interest off-late.

After meeting Fadnavis on Thursday, Gadkari is learnt to have distanced himself from the race.

“I am not in the Chief Minister’s race; I do not want to be the CM. I feel sad when people say this as I have always maintained that I am not willing to go to state," Gadkari is quoted by media as saying.

He also maintained that he is 'happy' in Delhi and was not planning to head to Maharashtra.

Meanwhile, BJP observes Rajnath Singh and JP Nadda are likely to visit Maharashtra on Saturday to decide various issues regarding government formation in the state.

“There was no race and no competition” for the top post. The legislature party will sit and decide it leader. The Central Parliamentary Board will then confirm that person as the leader who will be the Chief Minister,” media quoted Leader of Opposition in state Legislative Council, Vinod Tawde as saying.

It is noteworthy to mention that, Both Fadnavis and Gadkari comes from the same city, Nagpur and also belongs to same caste, Brahmin.

Not only that, both are known to be quite close to BJP’s ideologue partner Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which is also headquartered in Nagpur.