CM says Opposition has turned “destructive”; announces progress on river linking and Gadchiroli steel project
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday accused the Congress of being “afflicted by ultra-leftist thinking” under Rahul Gandhi, claiming it has lost the ability to act as a constructive Opposition.
Speaking at a media interaction during the Diwali Milan at his residence Ramgiri, Fadnavis said the party was “attacking constitutional institutions” instead of offering alternative governance ideas.
He cautioned that such politics could endanger democratic institutions, saying the Congress treats the judiciary as “good” only when verdicts go in its favour. “If people start believing such attacks on constitutional authorities, the entire foundation of democracy will be shaken,” he warned.
Fadnavis also took a swipe at the Congress’ credibility, remarking that its criticism “no longer convinces people.” He added that India’s democracy must now “reinvent its Opposition” to maintain balance.
On local body elections, the CM said the Mahayuti alliance would contest jointly in Mumbai, while in Pimpri-Chinchwad, BJP and the Ajit Pawar faction would fight separately “to deny space to the Opposition.”
Addressing the Shaktipeeth Expressway row, Fadnavis revealed that the government was considering changing its route in Solapur, Sangli, and Kolhapur amid local resistance. He clarified that the project faced no hurdles till Dharashiv and said some opposition was politically motivated.
Fadnavis announced that the DPR of the Wainganga–Nalganga–Painganga river linking project is ready, with land acquisition likely to begin by March. He also said the JSW Steel project in Gadchiroli will be relocated to less fertile land after farmer opposition.
Terming “urban Naxalism” the new internal threat, the CM said it would be countered constitutionally. On caste politics, he asserted that casteism exists “in politicians’ minds, not among common people.”
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