CM Devendra Fadnavis only Maharashtra minister in active mode: Supriya Sule

MUMBAI/PUNE: A day after PM Modi lauded CM Devendra Fadnavis's efforts to advance all-round development of remote and Naxal-affected areas, two of the CM's political adversaries, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP)'s Supriya Sule, praised him for his visit to Gadchiroli at the start of new year. While UBT Sena's mouthpiece Saamna said Fadnavis "started a new era of development in that Naxal-affected district," Sule said, "It was the late RR Patil who started development work in Gadchiroli when he was the home minister of the state. It is good to see that Fadnavis is continuing that legacy."


NCP MLA Chhagan Bhujbal also heaped praise on Fadnavis, saying that the CM was taking forward Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule's works.

Sule said Fadnavis was the only minister in the state cabinet "who looks in action mode from Day 1 of the formation of govt... No other minister is looking active yet".

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The last couple of years have seen a war of words between UBT Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and Fadnavis, and both Saamna and Sule's remarks come after a bitter election campaign and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi's boycotting of the Fadnavis cabinet's swearing-in. Saamna wrote in its editorial headlined 'Congratulations Deva Bhau' on Friday, "If the current CM wants to give Gadchiroli a new identity of 'Steel City' instead of 'Naxalites district', this should be welcomed."

At the same time, in a dig at the law and order situation in Beed after the killing of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, the editorial stated, "If the rule of guns continues in Beed but the rule of the Constitution is coming to Gadchiroli, then CM Fadnavis deserves the praise."

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Saamna stated, "CM Fadnavis started work in the new year, and for this, he chose Gadchiroli. While many ministers were stuck in the trap of getting lucrative portfolios and guardian ministership of a specific district, CM Fadnavis reached Gadchiroli and started a new era of development in the Naxal-affected district... Speaking at that time, he referred to the new era of development of Gadchiroli. If whatever the CM says is really going to happen, it will be positive not only for Gadchiroli but for all of Maharashtra. Especially for common people of Gadchiroli district, the poor tribals, this day will really be a turning point."