Eknath Shinde with Devendra Fadnavis (left) and Ajit Pawar celebrate the Maha Yuti win.
Credit: PTI Photo
Mumbai: Amid hectic political developments, the RSS has backed BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis — the chief architect of the Maha Yuti-NDA sweep — for the post of Maharashtra Chief Minister.
On the other hand, Shiv Sena chief leader Eknath Shinde and NCP President Ajit Pawar too seemed to be in the reckoning despite the BJP posting its best-ever performance in Maharashtra or for that matter any other state.
Shinde's lieutenants are asking for the existing power-sharing formula to continue while Pawar aides feel that there is nothing wrong in a change.
However, the ball is in the court of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister and BJP’s chief strategist Amit Shah - who are known to spring surprises and look at a wider canvas.
The BJP top brass would look at giving a larger message to allies, look at prevailing caste-equations besides several other factors.
The tenure of the 14th Maharashtra Legislative Assembly ends on 26 November and before that a new government needs to be in place.
The swearing-in ceremony is expected to be held on Tuesday or Wednesday - once the BJP's Parliamentary Board stamps the name.
“Given the complexities of the Trimurti-coalition, the Maha Yuti will retain the one-CM-two-Deputy CMs formula. As far as ministry is concerned, Maharashtra can have a maximum of 43 ministers including Cabinet Ministers and Minister of State and this has to be done carefully,” sources said.
In the outgoing set up, Shinde is the CM while Fadnavis and Pawar are Deputy CMs.
There are reports that Fadnavis, who is close to RSS and calls the shots for the BJP in the state, is expected to go to New Delhi and meet the high-command, however, there is no independent confirmation.
“The BJP ranks and files want Fadnavis in the top job in the state,” a senior political functionary said when asked about the earlier reports that the two-time CM and ex-Leader of Opposition is a frontrunner for BJP President’s post replacing JP Nadda, who is now the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister.
Fadnavis aide Girish Mahajan, when asked about who would be the CM, said: "As many as 132 MLAs of BJP were elected (as against Shiv Sena's 57 and NCP's 41)...so all the BJP workers and leaders feel that CM should be from BJP and that it should be Fadnavis. But still, our high command will take the decision."
The BJP Legislature Party is expected to meet on Monday.
In the morning, Pawar was unanimously elected as NCP Legislature Party leader.
In the evening, Shinde presided over a meeting of top leaders and newly-elected MLAs of his party, however, no official announcement has been made.
Shinde aides Naresh Mhaske, Sanjay Shirsat, Pratap Sarnaik and Deepak Kesarkar said that they want their leader to continue as CM, however, the final call would be taken by the leadership of three parties.
NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said that the three parties will sit together and decide who will be our leader. “We three parties will sit together and decide who will become the CM, Pawar can also become the CM, his strike rate is very good,” he said.
In a related development, NCP Working President Praful Patel met Shinde.
After the results, Fadnavis, accompanied by state BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule, met Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. Mumbai BJP President Ashish Shelar met people and thanked them for BJP’s success.
Ball starts rolling
Setting the ball rolling for the government formation, Election Commission of India’s Deputy Election Commissioner Hirdesh Kumar and Maharashtra’s Chief Electoral Officer S Chokalingam on Sunday called on Governor C P Radhakrishnan at the Raj Bhavan at Malabar Hill and presented the copies of the gazette containing names of members elected to the 15th Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and ECI's notification. This was done as per the provisions of Section 73 of the Representation of People Act, 1951.
Women meet Shinde
A large number of women activists of Shiv Sena led by Legislative Council Chairperson Dr Neelam Gorhe staged a show of strength in Varsha, the CM's official bungalow, and hailed him for the Majhi Ladhi Bahin Yojana. They raised slogans as the new CM. "This Ladka Bhau is always with you," said Shinde.
Parth Pawar asks MLAs to have faith in his father
Posturing, Ajit Pawar’s son Parth Pawar asked MLAs to have faith in the leadership of his father. “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the elected representatives from their respective constituencies, who will strive tirelessly for the welfare and progress of every citizen in this great state. I also warmly welcome members of the Legislative Assembly who place their trust in the leadership of Ajit Dada Pawar to join the ranks of NCP (Ajit Pawar faction). Together, let us work towards our shared vision of building a true welfare state,” he posted on X.
Maharashtra Assembly poll 2024 results | Check constituency results here
Jharkhand Assembly poll 2024 results | Check constituency results here
Bypoll 2024 results | Check Karnataka results here
Assembly Elections 2024 | The Maharashtra Assembly polls took place against the backdrop of a fractured political landscape in the western state where the Shiv Sena and NCP went up against the Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar factions, even as the BJP and Congress tried to make their mark. Maha Yuti are currently comfortably poised to win. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM faced a challenge after Hemant Soren's arrest and Champai, a longstanding party member, joining the BJP, but look set to retain power with its I.N.D.I.A. allies. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.
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