Ahead of polls, Mum’s ‘Devabhau’ woos Marathi manoos in Kolkata
Times of India | 18 April 2026
Kolkata: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday addressed the Marathi ‘manoos' at Maharashtra Niwas near Kalighat, asserting that "only a safe Bengal can ensure a safe India".
Fondly known as ‘Devabhau', Fadnavis highlighted the contributions of both Bengal and Maharashtra to the nation's development.
Promoting his vision of "magnetic Maharashtra", Fadnavis chose to speak in fluent Marathi during an hour-long interaction with around 250 Marathi families residing in Kolkata.
"People from Maharashtra staying in Kolkata have embraced Bengal and its culture. That was possible because Marathi manoos never had a sankoochit vichar (narrow mindset)," he said, drawing applause from the audience.
Recalling past interactions, Yogini Bapat of Maharashtra Mandal said: "In the past, we had two chief ministers — Yashwantrao Chavan and Vasantrao Naik — address the Marathi community in Kolkata. Ministers have visited too, but not a chief minister in several decades."
In Kolkata for election campaigning, Fadnavis also met industrialists, held a roadshow in Kasba, and addressed a public meeting in Entally. "Despite a stretched schedule, he insisted on interacting with the Marathi-speaking community," a Bengal BJP leader said.
During his address, Fadnavis praised the governance model under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also criticised Bengal's economic trajectory, stating that the state had lost its earlier status as India's financial capital.
"Nearly 1,400 listed companies have moved out of Kolkata. When companies leave, it reflects issues in governance and policy," he said, adding that 6,895 industries had exited the state.
He claimed many of these businesses relocated to Maharashtra due to its "ease of doing business" and favourable ecosystem, while others moved to Delhi, Gujarat, and elsewhere.
Fadnavis also raised concerns about demographic changes in certain districts. "There are districts where Hindus have become minorities in Bengal. The country can be safe only if Bengal is safe," he said, urging the Marathi community in Kolkata to vote "in the interest of the nation".