The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday appointed senior leader and four-time MLA Ravindra Chavan as the new president of its Maharashtra unit. Chavan, a prominent Maratha face, takes over from Chandrashekhar Bawankule at a crucial time as the party aims to grow independently ahead of the 2029 Assembly elections.
Who is Ravindra Chavan?
A seasoned politician from the Maratha community, the 54-year-old Chavan began his political journey as a corporator in the Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation in 2000, later serving as the chairperson of its standing committee. Elected MLA from Dombivali in 2009, he has retained the seat ever since.
Between 2016 and 2019, Chavan served in the first Devendra Fadnavis government, handling key portfolios such as Ports, Medical Education, IT, and Food and Civil Supplies. After the political upheavals in Maharashtra, he was again inducted as Public Works Department (PWD) Minister in the Eknath Shinde-led cabinet between 2022 and 2024.
Chavan is known for drawing inspiration from V D Savarkar and was instrumental in installing Savarkar’s bust in Mauritius, as well as establishing Maharashtra Bhakta Niwas in Ayodhya and Maharashtra Bhawan in Jammu and Kashmir.
Why the BJP picked Chavan now
His elevation is seen as a strategic move to consolidate Maratha support amid ongoing reservation agitations. Last year, he led a membership drive that brought 1.5 crore new members into the BJP fold. BJP insiders say Chavan’s organisational skills and grassroots approach make him the right choice as the party seeks to expand its base across Maharashtra’s 355 talukas and 36 districts.
A BJP leader said,
“When the party is in power, organisational roles become very important due to the need for perfect coordination. Chavan’s style ensures that happens.”
Chavan has also been handling the party’s affairs in the 39 Assembly constituencies of the Konkan region, traditionally a Shiv Sena stronghold, signalling the BJP’s intent to strengthen its independent presence.
Past controversies and political challenges
Chavan’s stint has not been without controversy. As PWD Minister, he faced criticism from ally Shiv Sena’s MLA Ramdas Kadam over delays in the Mumbai-Goa highway project, leading Kadam to quip, “Even Lord Ram returned after 14 years in exile, but the highway shows no signs of completion.” Chavan defended his record, citing completion of road works worth ₹92,000 crore covering over 23,000 km.
In 2016, he drew flak for an analogy involving Abraham Lincoln picking up a “piglet”, while comparing it to PM Modi and Fadnavis uplifting Dalits. The video went viral, forcing Chavan to clarify that his remarks were twisted out of context.
He also famously opposed the BJP’s alliance partner Eknath Shinde’s move to field his son Shrikant Shinde in Kalyan, citing the latter’s “high-handedness”.
The road ahead
With the BJP targeting a “shat pratishat BJP” (100% BJP) Maharashtra and aiming to win 2029 on its own strength, Chavan has his work cut out to build a robust organisation that doesn’t rely on allies. His appointment sends a clear signal of the party’s focus on strengthening its independent footprint in Maharashtra.
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