Nagpur, Jan. 6 -- Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Tuesday hailed Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as the "only true leader" in the state and the "sole pillar" of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), ahead of the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.

While leaving to campaign for BJP candidates in Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune, Bawankule claimed that there are currently no signs of "factionalism or groupism" within the party, although he acknowledged some local-level dissatisfaction among a few members.

Speaking to the media, he expressed confidence that the mayors of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad would be elected with a two-thirds majority and said the BJP was poised for a major victory. He also claimed that...