Mumbai — Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray told reporters on Tuesday that senior BJP figure Devendra Fadnavis is being deliberately sidelined from the prime‑ministerial race, a move he said would advantage Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde. The allegation revives a similar charge made by former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray last week, who described an “Operation Devendra” aimed at keeping the chief minister “at a certain level.” Both statements suggest a coordinated political strategy to shape the national leadership contest in favour of the Shinde‑led government in Maharashtra.
What happened
During a press briefing, Aaditya Thackeray asserted that the BJP’s internal calculations were deliberately preventing Devendra Fadnavis, who served as Maharashtra’s chief minister from 2014 to 2019, from emerging as a contender for the prime‑ministerial post. Thackeray framed the alleged maneuver as a benefit to Eknath Shinde, the current chief minister whose party, the Balasaheb Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, remains in a coalition with the BJP. The claim mirrors Uddhav Thackeray’s recent comment that an “Operation Devendra” was being run to keep the chief minister “at a certain level.”
The BJP has not issued a public response to Aaditya Thackeray’s remarks, and no internal documents or official statements have been presented to substantiate the existence of any such operation.
Why it matters
If the accusations are accurate, they point to a calculated effort by the BJP’s central leadership to influence the composition of its national ticket in a way that safeguards a fragile coalition in Maharashtra. The state’s political equilibrium is delicate: the Shiv Sena split in 2022 led to Eknath Shinde forming a government with BJP support, while the faction led by Uddhav Thackeray retained a separate identity. A central decision to marginalize a high‑profile leader like Fadnavis could be interpreted as a concession to the Shinde faction, potentially consolidating the coalition’s hold on the state’s legislative agenda and its share of central resources.
Conversely, the allegations raise questions about the transparency of the BJP’s candidate‑selection process ahead of the next general election. Accusations of internal “operations” to manipulate leadership outcomes could erode public confidence in the party’s internal democracy and fuel opposition narratives about back‑room politicking.
Background and context
Devendra Fadnavis rose to prominence as Maharashtra’s chief minister from 2014 to 2019, leading a BJP‑Shiv Sena alliance that delivered a decisive victory in the 2014 state elections. After the 2019 polls, a power‑sharing arrangement collapsed, leading to a brief period of political instability and the eventual formation of a coalition government under Uddhav Thackeray. In 2022, a faction of Shiv Sena legislators led by Eknath Shinde broke away, aligning with the BJP to form a new government with Shinde as chief minister.
The BJP, now the dominant party at the centre, is expected to field a prime‑ministerial candidate for the 2026 general election. While senior leaders such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi have hinted at a possible succession plan, the party has not officially named a successor. Within this vacuum, speculation about potential candidates—including Fadnavis—has intensified.
Aaditya Thackeray, son of the late Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray and a prominent youth leader, has positioned himself as a vocal critic of any perceived manipulation that could undermine his party’s autonomy. His brother, Uddhav Thackeray, continues to lead the splinter Shiv Sena faction and has previously suggested that an “Operation Devendra” was being orchestrated to keep the chief minister “at a certain level.”
Competing claims and uncertainty
The primary claim rests on statements made by Aaditya Thackeray and, earlier, by Uddhav Thackeray. Neither politician provided documentary evidence to substantiate the existence of an organized effort to exclude Fadnavis from the prime‑ministerial race. The BJP’s silence on the matter leaves the allegation uncorroborated.
Political analysts cited by the Hindustan Times note that intra‑party dynamics within the BJP, especially after the 2024 general election, could influence candidate selection, but they caution that without concrete evidence the allegations remain speculative. The party’s official stance, as reported, is a denial of any internal maneuvering to block Fadnavis’s candidacy, though no formal statement has been released.
Given the lack of verifiable proof—such as internal communications, meeting minutes, or whistle‑blower testimony—the claim currently rests on political rhetoric rather than documented fact. The ambiguity is compounded by the opaque nature of the BJP’s candidate‑selection process, which traditionally involves closed‑door deliberations among senior leadership.
What to watch next
– BJP internal meetings: The party’s scheduled high‑level strategy sessions in the coming weeks may reveal the shortlist of potential prime‑ministerial candidates. Any mention of Fadnavis in official minutes or leaked documents would either substantiate or refute the “Operation Devendra” narrative.
– Formal candidate announcements: The BJP is expected to announce its prime‑ministerial candidate ahead of the 2026 election campaign. The inclusion or exclusion of Fadnavis will be a decisive data point.
– Statements from Fadnavis: A direct response from the senior leader could clarify his own ambitions and whether he perceives any internal obstruction.
– Reactions from Maharashtra coalition partners: Both the Shinde‑led Shiv Sena and the Uddhav‑led faction may issue further comments, especially if the BJP’s decision appears to tilt the balance of power in the state.
– Parliamentary and media scrutiny: Opposition parties and investigative journalists are likely to probe the BJP’s candidate‑selection mechanism, potentially filing Right‑to‑Information (RTI) requests or seeking testimonies from party insiders.
Conclusion
Aaditya Thackeray’s allegation that Devendra Fadnavis is being kept out of the prime‑ministerial race—purportedly to benefit Eknath Shinde—adds a new layer to the already complex interplay between Maharashtra’s coalition politics and the BJP’s national leadership calculus. While the claim aligns with broader concerns about opaque decision‑making within the party, it remains unsubstantiated in the public domain. The coming weeks, marked by internal BJP deliberations and the eventual unveiling of the prime‑ministerial candidate, will determine whether “Operation Devendra” is a substantive political maneuver or a rhetorical device employed by rival factions. Until documentary evidence emerges, the allegation must be treated as a contested political assertion rather than an established fact.
Sources
– “Devendra Fadnavis being kept out of PM race, this will benefit Eknath Shinde: Aaditya Thackeray,” Hindustan Times, July 3 2026. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/devendra-fadnavis-being-kept-out-of-pm-race-this-will-benefit-eknath-shinde-aaditya-thackeray-maharashtra-defection-101783056583827.html
Story synopsis gathered from: Hindustan Times – India News — source
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