Brainstorming begins in Maharashtra on CM’s face
After winning the political battle of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the government formation process has gained momentum, but even after getting such a huge mandate, there is still suspense regarding the Grand Alliance Chief Minister’s post. After BJP became the largest party, Devendra Fadnavis’ name is leading the race for CM, but getting final approval is not easy. While Eknath Shinde is firmly in the CM’s seat, Ajit Pawar’s camp is also desperate for political power. Both Shiv Sena and NCP are vying for the CM post.
Since the announcement of the Maharashtra election results, separate meetings of BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP leaders are being held from Mumbai to Delhi. At the same time, pressure politics for the CM post began. Ajit Pawar has been elected leader in the NCP legislative party meeting. Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal raised the demand to appoint Ajit Pawar as Chief Minister. At the same time, Shiv Sena MLAs elected Eknath Shinde as their leader and party leader Pratap Sarnaik said that all MLAs want Eknath Shinde to remain the CM.
BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde says the current term of the Maharashtra Assembly will end at 12 midnight on Tuesday, November 26. In such a situation, it is necessary to form a government before that. The three parties will decide the CM post together and we will take a decision on it soon. Both the NCP and Shiv Sena are waiting for the BJP’s decision before they can form the government. From the way both BJP allies have raised the demand of making their respective leaders CM, one thing is clear: the decision to wield power in the grand alliance is not an easy one.
‘Hero’ of Mahajeet of Mahayuti
Mahayuti won a plum seat in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. Mahayuti has created history by winning 230 seats out of the total 288 seats in the Assembly. The BJP won 132 seats, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena won 57 seats and Ajit Pawar’s NCP won 41 seats. Apart from this, Mahayuti, along with independents and small parties, has the support of 236 MLAs. The BJP’s strike rate was 89 per cent, Shiv Sena 72 per cent and NCP 77 per cent. Even after getting such a big mandate, the BJP is not able to take a decision. The people of the state are waiting for their Chief Minister. People’s eyes are also on who will be the new CM of Maharashtra.
Efforts to form a new government have begun and a meeting of senior BJP leaders was held in Delhi. Meetings between top BJP leaders have been taking place in Delhi for two days, while a series of meetings between party leaders and MLAs are also being held in Mumbai. The process of meeting the MLAs with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis continues. Also, meetings of MLAs who won in the party elections, Bhupendra Yadav, Ashwini Vaishnav, Devendra Fadnavis and state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule, are being held continuously.
Keep an eye on the leader of the BJP legislative party
The BJP legislative party meeting will be held in Mumbai on Monday, in which the leader of the legislative party will be elected. Only after this will the BJP meet Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s NCP and decide to form the government. Maharashtra is a politically and economically important state. In such a situation, the BJP is making all-out efforts to make him its Chief Minister, because despite being the largest party in 2019, it had to be content with the post of Deputy Chief Minister. This time the BJP has managed to win the maximum number of seats in Maharashtra politics, so its claim on the CM post is considered the strongest.
The credit for the BJP’s excellent performance in Maharashtra goes to Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Devendra Fadnavis became Chief Minister in 2014 and led the government for five years. He was sworn in again as Chief Minister in 2019, but had to resign after four days. This time, Fadnavis played an important role in how the electoral fortunes of Maharashtra changed five months after the defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. That is why the possibility of Fadnavis becoming CM is being expressed.
Before Devendra Fadnavis, Manohar Joshi, a Brahmin from Shiv Sena, became CM, but thanks to Maratha and OBCs, BJP can also spring a surprise. Due to the unity of Maratha leaders in 2019, Fadnavis’s hopes of becoming CM were dashed. Furthermore, Modi-Shah often surprises with his decisions. Last year it was seen in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. Fadnavis’ name is also running for BJP. In such a situation, it remains to be seen whether the BJP chooses Fadnavis or some new name will be approved.
Will Eknath Shinde quit the presidency?
Before the Maharashtra election results, Eknath Shinde was staying out of the race for the CM post. During the elections he had said that he was not in the race for CM this time, but after getting good seats in the results, he is now back in the race. The way CM Eknath Shinde managed to win the real Shiv Sena’s battle against Uddhav Thackeray in the elections, after that his party leaders are not ready to resign from the post of CM. After being elected leader of the Shiv Sena Legislative Party, Eknath Shinde thanked all his MLAs and remained silent on the CM issue, but his party has started exerting intense pressure.
Eknath Shinde’s supporters say that Shinde has done a good job in the first innings, so he should get a second chance. Shiv Sena leader Pratap Sarnaik said all MLAs want Eknath Shinde to remain the CM. Apart from this, Shiv Sena leaders Naresh Mhaske, Sanjay Shirsat and Deepak Kesarkar said they want their leader to remain the Chief Minister. Thus, Shiv Sena leaders and MLAs have started openly claiming that Eknath Shinde will be the CM and say that the elections were contested in their face. The Maharashtra mandate was given to Shinde after two and a half years in office, making him a contender.
Ajit Pawar is also showing power
Despite the split from Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar has finally proven his political mettle. Ajit Pawar’s party has proven that the real NCP is its own by winning 41 of the 59 seats in its quota. On Sunday, Ajit Pawar was elected leader of the NCP legislative party. The NCP has started voting to make Ajit Pawar CM. NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said Ajit Pawar should be made Chief Minister of Maharashtra because his strike rate is very good. All party MLAs also want Ajit Pawar to lead the assembly.
The NCP can claim the CM post, but Ajit Pawar can accept the deputy CM post. Ajit Pawar will also be seen agreeing to be appointed BJP CM. The NCP and Shinde are keeping an eye on who will be elected leader of the BJP’s legislative party. Only after this the decision on CM should be taken. It is believed that the three parties will sit down and take a decision, but will Shinde agree to be appointed BJP CM?
