Fadnavis was born in a MarathiHindu family to Gangadhar Fadnavis and Sarita Fadnavis in Nagpur.[4]
His father, Gangadhar Fadnavis, served as a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council from Nagpur. His mother, Sarita Fadnavis, a descendant of the Kaloti family of Amravati, was a former director of the Vidarbha Housing Credit Society.[5][6]
Fadnavis did his initial schooling at Indira Convent, named after then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. During the Emergency, Fadnavis' father, being a member of the Jan Sangh, was imprisoned for participating in anti-government protests. Fadnavis subsequently refused to continue his schooling at Indira Convent as he did not want to attend a school named after the Prime Minister he held responsible for imprisoning his father. He was then transferred to the Saraswati Vidyalaya School, Nagpur, where he received most of his schooling.[7][8]
Fadnavis attended Dharampeth Junior College for his higher secondary.
Fadnavis holds a graduate degree in law from Government Law College, Nagpur University, a post-graduate degree in Business Management and a diploma in Methods and Techniques of Project Management from DSE-German Foundation for International Development, Berlin, Germany.[9]
Political career
Fadnavis began his political career in the mid-nineties.[10] Since that time he served in multiple leadership roles for both his political party and as an elected representative. As a college student, Fadnavis was an active member of the BJP affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).[11][12] in the year 1992 at the age of 22 and became a Corporator. 5 years later, in 1997, Fadnavis at 27 became the youngest mayor of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation and became the second-youngest mayor in the history of India.[13][14]
Fadnavis is representing Nagpur in the Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra State (Vidhan Sabha) since 1999.
Chief Minister of Maharashtra (2014 - 2019) 1st Term
Fadnavis took over as the legislative party leader by the BJP MLAs in the presence of the party's central observers, Union Home minister Rajnath Singh and the party's National General Secretary Jagat Prakash Nadda after being elected to the position. As the leader of the largest party in Maharashtra state assembly, Fadnavis was appointed as the chief minister of Maharashtra on 31 October 2014. His government won a confidence motion by voice vote on 12 November 2014 allowing it to govern.[15]
Flagship projects and initiatives
Mumbai Next
Fadnavis launched ‘Mumbai Next' on 30 January 2015, which was termed a roadmap to convert the country's financial capital into a global financial and entertainment hub. On 6 February, the Fadnavis government held a high-profile conference under the project's umbrella, which was attended by Tata Sons Ltd chairman Cyrus Mistry, Reliance Industries Ltd chairman Mukesh Ambani, and other prominent business leaders.[16]
Police digitisation project
Chief Minister Fadnavis launch (CCTNS)_15-9-2015 _Maharashtra Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems
On 15 September 2015, Fadnavis inaugurated the MaharashtraCrime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) in Nagpur, advancing the state's ambition to digitise its police force. Fadnavis, who was also the state home minister, stated, "The CCTNS initiative would put all police stations in the state online and paperless."[17] After the implementation of CCTNS, Maharashtra became the country's first state to establish India's first crime-criminal tracking network (CCTNS).[18]
Digital initiatives - launch of cyber labs and village digitisation
In 2016, under his chief ministership, Maharashtra launched several digital initiatives to mark 70th Independence Day.[19]
Samruddhi Expressway
Under the Chief Ministership of Fadnavis, the Maharashtra Government proposed an initiative for Nagpur-Mumbai Super Communication Way. This infrastructure was initiated to be built as a part to boost economic development in the rural areas of Maharashtra. This said highway was proposed in 2015, and the pre-construction activities began in 2019. This Mahamarg is built to enable a safe and fast commute between Mumbai and Nagpur along with new towns equipped at the intersections. The expressway will reduce the travel time from 16 hours to 8 hours.[20] This expressway will be consisting of charging stations along its length for Electrical Vehicles (EV). The Samruddhi Mahamarg will open new job and employment doors in the coming years, which will bridge rural and urban gaps. The highway has now been renamed as “Hindu Hrudaysamarat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Highway” by the government on 22 December 2019, and is now planned to complete the entire work of the project by September 2022.[21]
1% Reservation for orphans in Government jobs
In 2018, Fadnavis announced a 1% Government Reservation in the open category for orphans education and government jobs in Maharashtra. Maharashtra is the foremost state to obtain such a policy. [22] Fadnavis had initiated this policy after an orphan Amruta Karvande, was declined a job despite clearing Maharashtra State Public Service Commission (MPSC) exam. She then met Fadnavis and shared her resentment. The 1% open category reservation quota shall apply to those children who are granted certificates of being orphans by the Juvenile Homes and the Women and Child Development department. The GR policy states that the Maharashtra Government will create a separate category within the general category which means it will not have to increase its caste reservation quota.[23]
CM Fellowship Scheme
Fadnavis, under his chief ministership, had launched The Chief Minister Fellowship program in 2015. CM Fellowship is an 11-month long fellowship program run by the CM's office, the Government of Maharashtra. This program was launched with the aim of providing administrative experience to the youth. This initiative offers graduates and postgraduates an 11-month stint with the Maharashtra government and carries with its stipend and other perks.[24] The eligibility criteria to apply for the Chief Minister Fellowship Program is the age between 21 and 26 years, graduation with first-class, one-year work experience, and knowledge of Marathi. This CM Fellowship Program offers an opportunity to work with Government.
Agricultural Pond
Maharashtra Government launched the 'Magel Tyala Shettale' scheme in 2016 to overcome the drought and sustainable agriculture in the state. Under this 'Magel Tyala Shettale', 108.33 percent of the target was achieved. Fadnavis had been touring drought-prone areas in Maharashtra, meanwhile, farmers in the state had demanded to make few farms available for sustainability in agricultural production and increasing availability of irrigation through watersheds and water conservation of drylands in the state[25]These farms have benefited the farmers during the intermittent rainy seasons.[26]
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Krishi Sanman Scheme
During the Fadnavis-led Government in 2017, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Krushi Sanman Yojana was announced by Fadnavis, where a Rs 34,022 Crore loan waiver provided relief to 89 Lakh farmers across the state of Maharashtra. This scheme also benefited crop and medium-term borrowers.[27][28]
Marathwada Water Grid Project
In 2019, the Fadnavis-led Governance initiated a scheme to set up a water grid project in Marathwada to address the drought situation. The cost of the scheme was proposed at Rs 4,293 Crore. Fadnavis initiated this water grid project and lifted water from Konkan to the Godavari basin to make droughts in Marathwada "A history".[29] The water grid and other new schemes were introduced to make Marathwada shed the tag of being a drought-prone region. The project included a plan for water grid from Israeli partners.[30]
Automated Weather Stations
In 2016, Fadnavis during his ministership initiated to launch of Automated Weather Stations (AWS) to prevent huge losses and provide accurate weather stations for farmers in Maharashtra as early and untimely rains and hailstorms cause enormous losses to farmers. The AWS helps measure the accuracy of rain pattern, humidity & expected rainfall along with information on the best crop for farmers. Close to 2,065 such stations were planned to come up in the state on PPP (public-private partnership) models. Maharashtra State Government had collaborated with a private weather forecasting organization under which a network of AWS was planned to launch. Initially, around 12×12 km area of each taluka was said to have one AWS each. With the capability to record important farming parameters the AWS was said to be a significant role in the life of the farmers in Maharashtra.[31][32][33]
Chief Minister of Maharashtra (2019 - 2019) 2nd Term
On 23 November 2019, Fadnavis formed a government with the help of Ajit Pawar of NCP; however, this government only lasted for a few days.[34] During this short period, Fadnavis chaired a climate resilience meeting with representatives of the World Bank, restarted the Chief Minister's refund cell, and sanctioned ₹5380 crores in aid for farmers.[35]
Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra (2022-present) 1st Term
Best Parliamentarian Award by Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (2002–03)[38]
Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellow, by Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Singapore (2017) -
Fadnavis delivered a speech at the 57th Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellow lecture organised by the Institute of South Asian Studies and Confederation of Indian Industry. His presentation was titled ‘Infrastructure-led Growth: Maharashtra – India’s Engine of Development’.
[39]
His delegation also signed an MOU with the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on partnership for infrastructure development projects in Maharashtra.
[40]
Honorary Doctorate from Osaka City University, Japan (2018) - Fadnavis was the first Indian to be conferred with the same for the socio-economic development in Maharashtra[41]
The 120-year-old university then had so far conferred its supreme honorary degree on only 10 distinguished persons in the world.
Outstanding Leadership in Development Award from Georgetown University, United States (June 2018) - Fadnavis received the which he dedicated to the people of Maharashtra.[42]
Fadnavis, accompanied by a delegation, undertook a two-day official visit to the island country of Mauritius. He was joined by the Mauritian Prime Minister, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and the Mauritius Marathi Mandali Federation
[43]
members to inaugurate a monumental 12-feet statue of the Maratha warrior king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.[44]
Fadnavis's official visit to Mauritius served as a significant milestone in the diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Additionally, his delegation visited the first settlement of the Marathi Community in Mauritius at the Black River Gorges as well as the Pandhurang Khestra Mandir in Cascavelle and the Ganga Talao. Fadnavis also announced a grant of 44 million Mauritius rupees for the construction of a multi-purpose hall and a scholarship benefiting 10 students.
[46]
Controversies
Bharat Mata slogans in 2016
In April 2016, while addressing a rally in Nashik, Fadnavis said that every Indian would have to chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai,' and those who refuse to chant the slogan should not live in the country and instead go to Pakistan or China.[47] Critics pointed that this was an attempt to corner the Muslims. Fadnavis later issued a clarification that the "Bharat Mata Ki Jai' issue had nothing to do with religion. [48]
Aurangzeb-related remarks in 2023
In June 2023, following the clashes over social media posts glorifying Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Kolhapur, Deputy CM Fadnavis remarked at a public rally that how come so many sympathizers of Aurangzeb, "Aurangzeb Ki Aulad", have surfaced in the state (Maharashtra)?"[49]. Several political analysts have criticized Fadnavis’s Aurangzeb Ki Aulad (literal translation "Aurangzeb's Children") remark noting that it constituted a dog whistle to target Muslims in his state. Several Hindu groups opposed the social media posts resulting in communal clashes.[50] Aurangzeb is a controversial figure in Maharashtra, often considered responsible for imposition discriminatory jizya tax on Hindus and demolition of many Hindu temples.[51] Meanwhile, Fadnavis tried to clarify that he did not consider Muslims as Aurangzeb's descendants and that nationalist Muslims do not see Aurangzeb as their hero.[49]
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