Leaders and members from the three parties in the Mahayuti alliance met on Sunday to talk about forming the government and to decide who will be the next chief minister. This discussion followed their significant win in the Maharashtra assembly elections.
Chandrashekhar Bawankule, the president of BJP in Maharashtra, indicated that there’s a preference for Devendra Fadnavis to take the top position. He mentioned that a final decision would be made collectively by the top leaders of all three parties involved. According to Bawankule, all parties within the coalition want their leader in the chief minister’s role, and that is especially true for BJP supporters who believe Fadnavis should step into the role.
Despite holding a strong number of seats, discussions within the coalition reflect a desire to consider the alliance’s overall health. One senior BJP leader suggested that keeping Eknath Shinde as chief minister could strengthen the coalition’s reputation and underline the party’s commitment to collaboration. Shinde was the face of the election campaign, and giving him another term could reinforce successful partnerships.
Shinde has been advocating for his continuation in the role, citing the success of his election campaign and programs like the Ladki Bahin scheme, which his supporters credit for their electoral success. Recently, women from his party visited him, urging him to stay on as chief minister. Reports suggest he may propose a rotation for the position, sharing it equally for two-and-a-half years with another leader.
Deepak Kesarkar, a key leader from Shinde’s faction, remarked that their successful campaign was under Shinde’s leadership, but ultimately, the BJP will have the final say in the decision.
On another front, Ajit Pawar was re-elected as the legislative party leader for the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in a meeting with party members. Chhagan Bhujbal, a senior NCP member, expressed that although the party’s legislative leaders for Shiv Sena and BJP are not yet clear, he sees no reason to oppose Fadnavis’s potential appointment as chief minister.
Sunil Tatkare, the NCP state president, maintained a neutral stance, focusing on building the party and supporting all marginalized communities. He stated that the decision about the new chief minister would rest with BJP leaders.
Meanwhile, there are concerns among senior BJP members regarding the delay in appointing party observers. They noted that the new MLAs will need at least 12 hours to travel to Mumbai for a meeting after names are announced. Because this process has not yet begun, a swearing-in ceremony on Monday seems unlikely.
Legislature officials anticipate that the swearing-in could occur on or after November 27, as the current assembly is in session until November 26. A significant ceremony is planned with the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, although the venue is still to be confirmed due to other events taking place at Wankhede Stadium.
