4 minutes of readingBombayJanuary 18, 2026 22:03 IST
After the huge electoral success in the local body elections, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is likely to face many more challenges both in managing the administration and resolving the coalition’s internal conflicts as he reasserts his leadership.
Apart from that, the main task that has been set is to restore the image of a tough administrator through good governance in the next three and a half years and revamp the image of the Mahayuti government by introducing greater transparency and accountability in the system.
Senior sources in CMO said, “Once the Zilla Parisad elections are over in February, politics will take a backseat. All focus will be on governance.” Fadnavis, they warned, is going to relentlessly advance his good governance agenda even if he has alliance partners Shiv Sena and NCP.”
In the three-tier local body elections for 288 municipal councils and nagar panchayat, the BJP won 188 seats. Again in 29 municipal corporation polls, the BJP emerged largest in 20 civic bodies. Next month’s Zilla Parisads survey will be the third in a series of local body surveys. However, once that ends, there will be no major elections in Maharashtra for the next three and a half years.
In the last 48 hours after the poll results, Fadnavis has given ample indications about how the situation in Maharashtra might develop. Addressing party workers in Bombay, PuneIn Nagpur, the message he boldly pushed was about accountability and transparency.
“The massive public mandate means greater responsibility. We have to return to greater transparency and accountability in the system. There will be no room for complacency and corruption,” he warned.
Those who have closely followed Fadnavis as CM admit, “The coalition conflict that marred Mahayuti’s one-year government was not to his liking, especially the misconduct of some of the ministers representing the alliance partners, as it severely affected the overall image of his government.” Once the heat and dust of the polls settles, sources reveal, “Fadnavis will take drastic decisions in the interest of Maharashtra.”
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Chandrashekhar Bawankule said, “Development is our main agenda for both the government and politics. The poll results have proven this…Despite coalition wrangling, we have never compromised on governance.”
A senior bureaucrat requesting anonymity said, “Every major political project and decision, irrespective of which party holds the portfolio, will be scrutinized by the CM.”
Many in the state government believe that the experiences of the first year of the Mahayuti government will help the current government to be firm in addressing issues such as caste polarization. Sources said it would be better to address situations like the polarization between Maratha and OBC, which led to a lot of political agitation.
The government has already constituted a sub-committee headed by Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil that will closely monitor and address any issues arising in the Maratha reservation.
Experts predict that Fadnavis will not protect Mahayuti’s allies or release them if they are found involved in any crime or corruption. “In the past there have been several instances where Fadnavis let his alliance partners out of the alliance with stern warnings. Now he will ensure their exit,” a cabinet member said.
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With a three-party coalition pulling the administration in three different directions, Fadnavis feels it does not bode well for the government’s image. Sooner rather than later it will have to ensure that the rules and regulations are not for officials but also for politicians.
When the assassination of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh on December 9, 2024 shook the government, it ensured that NCP minister Dhananjay Munde resigned. Similarly, Manikrao Kokate, accused of real estate fraud, was shown the door.
But when it came to corruption and misconduct cases involving Shiv Sena ministers Sanjay Shirsat or Yogesh Kadam’s dance bar controversy, he had to bow to Shinde’s pressure and retain them in the cabinet.