Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is confident that the BJP-led government will complete its term and fulfill the promises it has made. He outlines his vision for the state on the sidelines of the 12th Hindustan Times Leadership Summit on Saturday.
You will complete a month in office soon. By now, you have had a fair idea about the challenges your government is up against. Can you meet them?
I’m pretty confident. As an MLA, I was raising issues for 15 years. I know the problems well. There have been several issues, right from lack of governance to administrative mess to agrarian crisis. I have a sustainable policy to handle them.
Your government took a u-turn on the local body tax and toll collection issue. Do you think it was easier to raise issues when you were in the opposition than to address them now when you are in power?
It is a matter of perspective. In a democracy, both the opposition and the government have roles to play. The opposition voices people’s aspirations and the government tries to fulfill them. We didn’t promise abolition of toll but I did have a plan to scrap it. Experts told me it could lead to incremental development. Toll in Maharashtra is a problem because of opaque policies. We are working on an alternative that will be acceptable to all.
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is confident that the BJP-led government will complete its term and fulfill the promises it has made. (Sanjeev Verma/HT Photo)
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is confident that the BJP-led government will complete its term and fulfill the promises it has made. (Sanjeev Verma/HT Photo)
A power-sharing formula with the Shiv Sena is still in the works and the support from the NCP is raising eyebrows. Do you think your government can complete its term?
We are speaking to the Shiv Sena and being long-time allies (before they parted ways) we know what should be done to forge a tie-up. There is no issue of instability. I am confident that my government will run its full course (five years). It will be a successful government and deliver what it has promised.
Have you prepared any blueprint?
I prepared a vision document before the assembly election. It’s being uploaded on the Internet. If you look at the governor’s address to the assembly (earlier this month), it reflects the vision document. In due course, you will see the vision become a reality.
Full coverage: HT Leadership Summit 2014