In a major organisational reshuffle ahead of the upcoming local body elections and the 2029 Lok Sabha polls, senior BJP leader Ravindra Chavan officially took charge as the Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president on July 1, 2025. The handover took place in a grand ceremony at the Worli Dome in Mumbai, attended by top BJP stalwarts and thousands of party workers.

Chavan, a seasoned leader with grassroots connections and a stronghold in Thane, succeeds Chandrashekhar Bawankule, who held the post during a turbulent electoral period for the party. Chavan's appointment signals a new era of mobilisation and strategy, with an explicit call to "prepare for the 2029 general elections from today."

A Celebration of Continuity and Change

The transition ceremony was marked by music, fireworks, and energetic sloganeering, signifying both continuity of leadership and the beginning of a renewed mission for the state unit. The event saw the presence of senior BJP leaders including:

• Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

• Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who formally announced Chavan’s appointment

• National General Secretary Vinod Tawde

• MP Udayanraje Bhosale

• Union Ministers Murlidhar Mohol and Raksha Khadse

• Senior leaders Ashok Chavan, Narayan Rane, Pankaja Munde, and Sudhir Mungantiwar

Chavan’s Vision: Countering Misinformation, Building Momentum

In his maiden speech as the state chief, Ravindra Chavan, who hails from a humble background, credited the BJP for empowering ordinary party workers like him. He said:

"It is only in the BJP that a common worker from an ordinary family is entrusted with such a big responsibility."

He expressed his commitment to spread the BJP’s nationalist ideology and pro-people policies of the Modi government across every corner of Maharashtra, especially ahead of key civic and panchayat elections.

Emphasising strategy and discipline, Chavan invoked Ramabhau Mhalgi’s guiding principles:

“Work tirelessly, keep a cool mind, and speak sweetly.”

Chavan also stressed the importance of combating misinformation about the Modi government and the Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra, aiming to preserve public trust in BJP’s governance model.

A Call to Action for 2029

Setting the tone for the 2029 general elections, Chavan declared that the election campaign must start now, calling on all levels of the party to organise, mobilise, and strategise from the grassroots upwards. His message was clear: “The BJP is my identity. The party has shaped me, and I am ready to do anything for the party that made me who I am.”

He pledged to bring renewed energy, organisational strength, and grassroots connect to maximize BJP’s electoral performance in the next five years.

Bawankule Reflects on His Tenure

Outgoing president Chandrashekhar Bawankule passed the baton with grace, recalling the doubts he faced upon assuming office and the successes the party achieved under his leadership:

• The enrolment of 1.5 crore new members, significantly expanding the party’s reach.

• Achieving the highest number of assembly seats despite a sub-par performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

He urged the cadre to rally behind Chavan and to target a 51% vote share in upcoming elections, signalling a strategic pivot towards electoral dominance in both state and national contests.

Leadership Endorsements and Confidence

Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar, a key figure in urban campaign management, praised Bawankule’s outreach efforts and expressed full confidence in Chavan’s capabilities. He noted that Chavan’s administrative skills, ideological commitment, and Maratha community connect make him the ideal choice to lead the party through a critical electoral period.

BJP’s Broader Strategy in Maharashtra

The appointment of Ravindra Chavan is part of the BJP’s ongoing state-level restructuring, as the party positions itself for:

• The Maharashtra Assembly elections

• Local body elections including municipal corporations and zilla parishads

• 2029 Lok Sabha elections

The party’s national leadership is believed to be placing a renewed focus on organisational rejuvenation, ensuring each state unit is equipped to handle digital campaigns, booth-level mobilisation, and social media outreach.

Key Political Messaging

The BJP's message from the event was unmistakable: leadership is earned through work, not entitlement, and the party remains a meritocratic platform where grassroots workers can rise to the top.

By choosing Ravindra Chavan, a strong Maratha leader from Thane, the party also hopes to consolidate caste dynamics and regional representation, which will be crucial in influencing electoral outcomes across Western Maharashtra and Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

Conclusion

Ravindra Chavan's elevation as the Maharashtra BJP president is both a strategic and symbolic move, setting the groundwork for the party’s long-term electoral roadmap through 2029. With full backing from party veterans and a charged cadre base, Chavan now shoulders the responsibility of translating grassroots momentum into electoral victories, all while maintaining BJP’s ideological narrative and organisational discipline.

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