India, March 29 -- Narendra Maharaj from Nanij in Ratnagiri district, known as "Shri Swami Narendracharyaji Maharaj" among devotees, has a huge following in the Konkan in Maharashtra. He founded the Jagadguru Narendracharya Maharaj Sansthan in 1994. His political following includes Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, Union ministers Narayan Rane and Nitin Gadkari, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, local leaders from the Konkan such as state industries minister Uday Samant, Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator Bhaskar Jadhav, among others. He started to build a following in 1989, when he launched a prohibition drive among youth in Nanij. He resigned as a gram sevak after being accused of corruption in 1992 and founded the Jagadguru Narendracharya Maharaj Sansthan in 1994. Like many other self-styled godmen, Narendra Maharaj uses philanthropy for image-building and build trust among the people. His social service activities include a free ambulance service and educational services. "Maharaj has followers in almost all the political parties. Union minister Nitin Gadkari attended Ram Navami utsav at the Nanij math in April a couple of years ago. He wields so much influence over the people that no local politician can distance themselves from the Swamiji," said a close aide said. In 2016, social activist Mukta Dabholkar, who runs the Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti, along with her brother Hamid, slammed then CM Devendra Fadnavis for attending the birthday celebration of Narendra Maharaj. Dabholkar said, "Narendra Maharaj was held guilty in a departmental inquiry for corruption and was terminated from government service years ago. Criminal cases have been registered against his followers for threats." After the Mahayuti's assembly win in 2024, Narendra Maharaj attributed the BJP win to "saints and sadhus". "In his dreams," remarked Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar, whose statement, predictably, drew protests from the godman's devotees....