Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar
It has been three days since the results of the Maharashtra Assembly elections were out, but there is suspense over the name of the Chief Minister. The BJP has more than twice as many seats as its allies. The BJP, which handed over the reins of power to Eknath Shinde for two and a half years, is now busy making plans to make him its Chief Minister. BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis’s name is leading the race for CM, but Shivsena is holding firm on Shinde’s name. In such a situation, Mahayuti’s third partner is NCP chief Ajit Pawar, whose camp wants to see Fadnavis instead of Shinde in the CM’s chair.
In Maharashtra, Mahayuti performed unexpectedly and returned to power with a huge majority, thereby completely changing the political landscape. If Mahayuti had won a slim majority in the election results, Eknath Shinde’s seat was safe, but the BJP’s improved performance changed the party’s outlook. BJP is now trying to form its CM, for which the name of Devendra Fadnavis is being rapidly mooted. Ajit Pawar’s camp also wants Fadnavis to take the reins of power, because the NCP sees its own benefit in it.
BJP emerged as the largest party in Maharashtra
The BJP won the maximum number of seats in the Maharashtra elections. The BJP has 132 seats, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena has 57 seats and Ajit Pawar’s NCP has 41 seats. Due to this, BJP wants to make Shinde its CM. Ajit Pawar is also in favor of appointing Devendra Fadnavis as CM. NCP leaders say Fadnavis’ name was supported at the meeting held after the election results.
NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said we see no reason why we should oppose Devendra Fadnavis for the CM post. Apart from this, the NCP has also clearly told the BJP top leadership that Fadnavis should be made CM. Not only Ajit Pawar, RPI leader and Union Minister Ramdas Athawale has also said that the BJP has decided to appoint Devendra Fadnavis CM, the formal announcement of which can be made soon. Eknath Shinde should enter central politics. If Shinde does not agree, the BJP will have no problem as it has a majority figure.
Why did Pawar choose Fadnavis instead of Shinde?
Why does Ajit Pawar and his close leaders want to see Devendra Fadnavis in the Chief Minister’s chair instead of Eknath Shinde? The reason behind this is that Ajit Pawar has stronger relations with Fadnavis than Shinde. In 2019, when Uddhav Thackeray broke the alliance with the BJP after the election results, Ajit Pawar was in favor. The then governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari had sworn in Fadnavis as CM and Ajit Pawar as deputy CM. However, Ajit Pawar could not get the support of the MLAs required by the NCP to form the government. Because of this he had to resign, but the political chemistry between both leaders was visible.
When Ajit Pawar rebelled against the NCP in 2023 and brought 40 MLAs with him, Devendra Fadnavis’ role was behind it. Fadnavis had appointed Ajit Pawar as deputy CM and given him a cabinet berth on par with Shiv Sena. Now, if Fadnavis becomes CM instead of Shinde, it will be comfortable to work for Ajit Pawar. Ajit Pawar’s stature in Maharashtra politics is no less than that of Eknath Shinde. Pawar’s strike rate in elections is also slightly higher. Thus, Ajit Pawar’s strategy is to keep Shinde at par with his political stature by installing Fadnavis in the CM’s chair.
Ajit Pawar’s political chemistry is better with Fadnavis than Shinde. That’s why Ajit Pawar wants Fadnavis to be made CM instead of Shinde. Ajit Pawar will be more comfortable working under Fadnavis’ leadership. Apart from this, Ajit’s strategy is to stay relevant in Maharashtra. If Shiv Sena people protest if Fadnavis is made CM instead of Shinde, then Ajit Pawar will be the first to be seen alongside the BJP. In this way, Ajit Pawar wants to kill many birds with one stone, for which he is playing a political trick.
