Fadnavis plays down BJP's Delhi debacle; says PM hasn't lost

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today tried to play down the BJP's debacle in the Delhi Assembly elections saying that winning and losing are part of the electoral battle and this outcome should not be seen as a verdict on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"In elections, some parties win, some lose...This does not any way mean the defeat of the party chief or of the Prime Minister (Modi). Our party will make an introspection into the debacle," he said at the Maharashtra Police Academy here.

"If Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) clinched victory in Delhi assembly elections, it does not imply that our PM has lost," he said replying to a query on Sena's reaction to the Delhi poll verdict.

"Sena has been our long-time associate, and as an able coalition partner, it should be with us in good times and bad," the CM said refusing to comment further.

Taking a jibe at the BJP after its humiliating defeat, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had said yesterday that it would not be wrong to call the results a defeat for Narendra Modi.

"Talks had been going on about a Modi wave sweeping the country. But the people of Delhi have shown that a tsunami is mightier than a wave. Its a message to those who lord over Delhi," he had said after AAP swept the Delhi polls yesterday in a landslide victory grabbing 67 seats in the 70-member Assembly.

Continuing to attack the PM, the Sena, in a scalding editorial in its mouthpiece 'Saamana' today said, "The BJP, which won a resounding majority in the Lok Sabha elections has been turned into 'dirt' by the 'broom-wielding' Aam Aadmi Party. BJP leaders do not even need fingers to count the number of seats they won. Putting the blame of defeat on Kiran Bedi isn't right."

Earlier, speaking after taking salute at the passing out parade presented by 542 cadets, including 132 women cadets at MPA grounds this morning, Fadnavis said his government has taken a decision to provide autonomous status to the Maharashtra Police Academy and is also planning to provide funds for expansion of MPA quarters, classrooms besides setting up an e-platform and a meeting hall.

He said the government has also decided to open a new police training school at Varangaon in Jalgaon district soon.

The CM also lauded the role of the 109-year-old MPA in the country's security by providing efficient police officers.

Maharashtra Minister of State for Home (Rural) Ram Shinde, Director General of Police Sanjeev Dayal, Additional DGP K Venkatesham, Director of MPA Naval Bajaj, Mayor Ashok Murtadak and others were among those present on the occasion.

Fadnavis and Shinde distributed prizes to the winning cadets in different subjects.
Ekta Chandrakant Pawar from Satara won the title of all-round woman cadet and also won the best cadet in law, in modern technology, in dealing with crowd and unlawful assembly while Yashwant Vishvanath Borse won the best all-round cadet title of the batch and the Yashwantrao Chavan Gold cup with the 'sword of honour'.