Start small, dream big
According to the report of the Indian Express, Chavan started his Political Inning 2000 from the Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC), where he became a councilor. Earlier, he was active in student politics. After becoming a councilor, he became the chairman of the KDMC Standing Committee. In 2002, he became the president of the Kalyan Sub-district of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha and settled in the organization.
In 2016-2019, in Devendra Fadnavis’s government, he got ministries like ports, medical education, information technology and food and civil supply. Then in 2022-2024, Eknath Shinde’s Mahayuti took over the Public Works Department (PWD) and was also the patron minister of Sindhudurg.
RSS connection
Ravindra Chavan, who has been active in Dombivali for 25 years, has also been associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He is a fan of Veer Savarkar. He played a big role in getting his statue installed in Mauritius. Not only this, he promoted Savarkar’s ideology by running a program called ‘Jyot’ in Savarkar Udyan in Dombivali.
In December 2024, the BJP membership campaign was commanded by Chavan.
In December 2024, the BJP membership campaign was commanded by Chavan. There was a target to add 1.5 crore new members, and they also hit this target. A senior BJP leader says,
“When the party is in power, the organizational roles become very important due to the need for correct coordination. Chavan’s working style made sure.”
Chavan is considered a big hand in BJP’s 39 out of 39 assembly seats in Konkan. Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena used to accumulate on these seats. Another party leader says that Chavan’s promotion shows the BJP’s intention to make deep inroads in this field. Where the party improved its performance in last year’s assembly elections. This leader told,
“It also gives a message to the deputy CM Shinde, which has influence in Thane, Kalyan, Dombivali and Navi Mumbai.”
Please tell that in January 2025, Chavan was made the Executive Chairman. Bawankule Mahayuti, who was the president of the party since August 2022, became Revenue Minister in the 2.0 government. After which this chair was empty. Chavan’s coronation is not a surprise, but ‘Part of Fadnavis’ is being told.
Why this appointment so special?
It is clear that nothing in politics is done without thinking. BJP has taken many things in mind behind the appointment of Chavan:
Maratha Card: The Maratha community dominates Maharashtra. The reservation movement of Manoj Jarange-Patil made this community political and powerful. Chavan’s Maratha is a master stroke for BJP. The party wants to make the Maratha vote bank further confirmed.
Konkan Fort: Konkan has been a stronghold of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray). But in the 2024 election, Chavan cast 35 out of 39 seats in BJP. Now by becoming the president, he will try to make an election blast again in this area.
Chavan is considered to be the ‘lieutenant’ of Fadnavis.
BMC and Local Elections: Elections of Brihanm Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other local bodies are to be held later this year. Chavan has a tremendous hold in Thane district (Kalyan-Dombivali, Navi Mumbai). Their skills will be used to woo urban voters.
Fadnavis’s trusted: Chavan is considered to be the ‘lieutenant’ of Fadnavis. With this appointment, Fadnavis has strengthened his hold on the organization.
Balance to Shinde: Eknath Shinde has an alliance with Shiv Sena, but BJP does not want to take any risk. Chavan opposed the Lok Sabha candidature of Shinde’s son Srikanth Shinde in 2024. This appointment is also a trick to counter Shinde’s influence.
Chavan opposed the Lok Sabha candidature of Shinde’s son Srikanth Shinde in 2024.
Stay in controversies
Chavan’s career is not immaculate. Some occasions came when his name was in the discussion due to wrong reasons:
Mumbai-Goa Highway: When Ravindra Chavan was a PWD minister, Ramdas Kadam of Shiv Sena had taunted him as a ‘poor minister’. Because the work of Mumbai-Goa highway was not completed on time. Kadam said,
“Even Lord Rama had returned after 14 years of exile, but there is no sign of the completion of the highway.”
Chavan had said about this project,
“During my tenure as a minister, roads worth Rs 92,000 crore and 9,044 km of bridges were completed during my tenure.”
Lincoln statement: In 2016, Chavan gave a wrong example of Abraham Lincoln and praised Narendra Modi and Fadnavis and spoke of Dalit upliftment. This statement was so wrong that the BJP had to clarify later. When the video of his statement went viral, Chavan tried to reduce the loss. He even said that the video has been edited. They said,
“I have never said a word against the Dalit community.”
In 2016, Chavan had given a wrong example of Abraham Lincoln and praised Narendra Modi and Fadnavis and spoke of Dalit upliftment.
Mission of 2029
The biggest target will now be the 2029 assembly election in front of Chavan. BJP’s dream is ‘100 percent BJP’, that is, victory on its own without alliance. For this, Chavan will have to tighten the organization further. His hold in Konkan and Thane is confirmed, but opponents like Shiv Sena (Uddhav) and NCP (Sharad Pawar) can launch thorns in their path.
Apart from this, Chavan will have to woo urban voters in BMC and other local elections. And yes, it will not be easy to maintain the balance of alliance with Shinde’s Shiv Sena.