This Article is From Oct 31, 2014

Yes, Uddhav Was There. But BJP Should be Wary

(Ashok Malik is a columnist and writer living in Delhi.)

It's not every day that a new government takes its oath of office in a cricket stadium. Admittedly, the idea of Devendra Fadnavis being sworn in as Maharashtra's chief minister at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, with a crowd of 30,000 cheering, may have seemed a bit over-the-top. Having said that, the party's first government in the state gave it ample reason to celebrate with a grand opening statement.

Fadnavis' arrival in Mantralaya, the state secretariat, signals more than just a generational change in provincial politics. At 44, Fadnavis represents not just a younger leadership but also the aspirations and pent-up urges of Vidarbha, a vast region that has felt marginalised by the more aggressive, go-getting politicians of Western Maharashtra.

Vidarbha has borne a disproportionate share of Maharashtra's farmer-suicide tragedy.

All this has led to intensified demands for a separate state.

Given this, the fact that a boy from Nagpur, the major city in Vidarbha, has made it to the top job in Mumbai will do much to assuage feelings of hurt. Hopefully, a regional balance will be resorted in Maharashtra's politics as well as its development.

What are Fadnavis' immediate challenges? He takes over from a predecessor administration that was ravaged by charges of corruption. This unwholesome reputation has told on Maharashtra's morale and attractiveness as a business destination.

Now, with a BJP government in Delhi, and all major states in the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor - Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra - run by the same party, Maharashtra is poised to take advantage of the new manufacturing and industrial revolution that Narendra Modi is promising.

With luck and imagination, this could be Maharashtra's moment.  In the short run, "Make in India" could very substantially become "Make in Maharashtra".

The second task before Fadnavis is to rescue Maharashtra's politics and Mumbai's real estate market from each other. The Congress, the NCP and the Shiv Sena have all had their fingers deep in the property business in Mumbai. Politicians in the BJP have not escaped implication either. As an outsider to the city, Fadnavis is untarnished by such charges and has a chance to break decisively with the past.

The perception that Maharashtra's politics is coterminous with Mumbai's FSI (floor space index) has become a plague upon the city and the state. It has led to the toxic influence of black money and cronyism in Mumbai's property development, and created a vested interest in keeping supply limited and prices high. As a result, the promise of a spanking new city - say across the water, in the Maharashtra mainland - that could take the pressure off Mumbai and give it a 21st century sister metropolis has never materialised.

Masquerading as politicians, the property tycoons of Mumbai and Maharashtra's Sugar Belt would not permit this to happen. It is to be hoped Fadnavis and the BJP, backed by Modi government, will grab the opportunity. The Modi government is committed to enlightened urbanisation and the creation of modern cities. As one of India's most urbanised states, Maharashtra could reap much benefit.

Finally, while Uddhav Thackeray did make it to Fadnavis' inaugural and while it is possible a few Shiv Sena ministers may eventually join the government, the post-election wrangling and residual bitterness between the Sena and the BJP has been sobering. The parties are now clear rivals, especially in the Mumbai metropolitan region. Even a (temporary) patch-up cannot hide that reality.

In the near future, the BJP and the Sena will compete in municipal elections. An electoral alliance may not be as simple to rebuild as some imagine. At some level, a trust deficit will always remain. These are choppy waters and Fadnavis will have to navigate his ship with dexterity.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

.