Maharashtra Political Drama: It has been a week since the Maharashtra Assembly Election results were declared, and the term of the Assembly officially ended on November 26. While the Mahayuti alliance (BJP, Shinde faction, and Ajit Pawar faction) has a decisive majority of 230 seats, a critical question remains unresolved—who will become the next Chief Minister?
Despite numerous meetings, the deadlock persists. On Thursday, a high-profile meeting was held at the Home Minister’s residence in Delhi with Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde, and Ajit Pawar in attendance. However, even after two hours of discussions, no consensus was reached. Two subsequent Mahayuti meetings scheduled for Friday in Mumbai were abruptly canceled, fueling further speculation.
Adding to the drama, Eknath Shinde made an unannounced visit to his village in Satara, sparking rumors of discontent. Reports suggest that Shinde may be unhappy with the formula for government formation, especially after relinquishing his claim to the Chief Minister’s post. However, Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant dismissed these rumors, stating Shinde had gone to his village for personal reasons and would return by Saturday.
The delay in finalizing the Chief Minister raises critical questions: Why is BJP taking so long to decide, despite its stellar performance in the elections? Is there a lack of agreement between Ajit Pawar, Eknath Shinde, and BJP on the power-sharing formula? The answers will significantly shape Maharashtra’s political future.
As the suspense continues, the spotlight remains on the Mahayuti alliance to resolve its internal challenges and deliver a functional government.
First know what was the result of the election?
Voting and Results:
- Voting was conducted on 20 November 2024 for 288 seats in a single phase.
- Results were declared on 23 November 2024.
BJP’s Performance:
- BJP contested 149 seats and won 132, achieving a strike rate of 88%.
- Its vote share increased to 26.77% from 26.10% in 2019.
- The party gained 27 seats compared to the 2019 elections.
Mahayuti Alliance Success:
- BJP + Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) + NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) together secured a record 230 out of 288 seats.
- Shinde faction won 57 seats, while Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction won 41 seats.
Mahavikas Aghadi’s Poor Performance:
- Congress + Uddhav Thackeray faction + Sharad Pawar faction won only 46 seats collectively.
- Congress secured 16 seats, Uddhav faction 20 seats, and Sharad faction 10 seats.
Losses for Opposition Parties:
- Congress, Uddhav Thackeray faction, and Sharad Pawar faction suffered significant setbacks compared to the previous elections.
Overall Outcome:
- The Mahayuti alliance emerged as the clear winner, cementing its dominance in the state.
- The Mahavikas Aghadi struggled to retain its foothold.
Then Eknath Shinde ‘renounced’
After a huge victory in the election, it was believed that Devendra Fadnavis would become the CM. On the other hand, there was a tussle for Eknath Shinde as well. While Ajit Pawar did not reveal his cards. Meanwhile, Eknath Shinde made a big sacrifice on 27th November. He gave up his claim for the post of CM of Maharashtra. Shinde said, “I have never considered myself as the Chief Minister. I have always worked as a common man. The support of the Central Government is necessary to run the state. I do not crave for any post. We are not people who fight. We are people who work. We will not become an obstacle in forming the government.”
Shinde had said, “I have also told the PM and the Home Minister that there is no speed breaker in Maharashtra. No one is angry. No one is missing. There are no differences here. There was one speed breaker – Maha Vikas Aghadi. Now that too has been removed. Whatever decision PM Modi and Amit Shah take, we accept it. Your candidate will be selected in the BJP meeting, that too is acceptable to us. We are not an obstacle in forming the government.”
After this, on Wednesday, 28 November, a meeting of the Mahayuti was held at Amit Shah’s house in Delhi. Details of the meeting were not revealed. But according to sources, many contenders definitely came forward. The names of Dada Bhuse and Shambhu Raj Desai surprised everyone. They were being said to be contenders for the post of Deputy CM. Along with this, there were speculations about the formula for the formation of the new government.
There was also speculation about the possible state cabinet in the media report about giving 12 departments to Shinde faction
It was said that BJP can give a total of 12 ministerial posts including three major departments in the state to Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde. Whereas, the third party in the Mahayuti alliance, Ajit Pawar-led NCP can get 9 seats in the cabinet. There can be a maximum of 43 ministers in Maharashtra including the Chief Minister. There is a discussion that BJP will keep 50% of the ministerial posts with itself.
When will the meeting that was cancelled on Friday be held now?
The important meeting of the Mahayuti to be held in Mumbai on Friday has been postponed. According to sources, this meeting can now be held on 1 December i.e. Sunday. According to media reports, a meeting of the BJP Legislature Party has also been scheduled on Sunday. In which the name of the CM will be decided in the presence of 2 observers. After this, there will be a meeting of the Mahayuti once again, in which the name of the Deputy CM will be decided. Finally, an announcement will be made regarding the formation of the new government.
Will Shinde want to become the Deputy CM?
This seems very unlikely. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat also said on Friday in response to a question from the media that if Eknath Shinde does not accept the post of Deputy CM, then another face from the party will take up this post. I do not think he will accept the post of Deputy CM.
Why is BJP taking so much time to decide the name of CM?
It is believed that caste equations will be kept in mind while choosing the CM. There are a large number of MLAs from Maratha community in the 288-seat assembly, while Devendra Fadnavis is a Brahmin. In such a situation, BJP wants to look at all the equations. However, even after all this, there is a high possibility of Fadnavis becoming the CM.
Shinde has said his part, but what about Ajit Pawar?
The third partner in the Mahayuti, Ajit Pawar, cannot be ignored. He has not yet revealed his cards. Although Shinde may have withdrawn from the race for CM, Ajit Pawar has not given any such statement. Ajit Pawar also attended the meeting held at Amit Shah’s house on Thursday. According to sources, Ajit Pawar is also said to be in favor of Fadnavis. But he has also given his list, which is being considered.
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