Breaking decades-old tradition, Devendra Fadnavis pays tribute to mother, ahead of his swearing-in as Maharashtra CM

Devendra Fadnavis is gearing up for his third term as Maharashtra's Chief Minister. Ahead of his oath-taking ceremony, a specific detail in the official invitation to the event has grabbed attention.

The document, signed by Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik, notably refers to Fadnavis by his full name: "Devendra Sarita Gangadharrao Fadnavis." This is the first time his mother's name, Sarita, has been included in any official context, diverging from the convention of using the father's name as a middle name.

In previous occasions, including his prior swearing-in ceremonies in 2014 and 2019, and even in his recent election affidavit, Fadnavis had used "Gangadhar," his father's name, as his middle name.

Many see this addition as a heartfelt tribute to Sarita Fadnavis, who has been an unwavering supporter of her son's political career.

Sarita Fadnavis, who tends to stay out of the public eye, had expressed her pride in her son's success, particularly following the BJP's victory in the state assembly elections that concluded last month.

"Everyone in the party wants him to be chief minister again. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi regards him as a son," she said.

The decision to incorporate Sarita's name in the invitation adds an emotional and personal dimension to an event that is typically a political occasion.

The swearing-in ceremony, scheduled to take place at Mumbai's Azad Maidan, is set to be a high-profile event, with numerous political figures and dignitaries invited to attend.

Fadnavis, who was born into a Brahmin family, faced personal tragedy early in life when his father, Gangadhar Fadnavis—a senior Jan Sangh and BJP leader—passed away when he was a teenager.

Despite these early challenges, Devendra Fadnavis rose to become one of Maharashtra's youngest-ever chief ministers.

The ceremony is also expected to see the presence of his family, including his wife Amruta Fadnavis, a prominent banker and social activist, and their daughter Divija.

(With inputs from ToI)