BJP Prepares for Maharashtra Leadership Transition: Will Devendra Fadnavis Return as CM?

Maharashtra CM: The BJP parliamentary board has appointed Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani as observers for the Maharashtra legislative party meeting scheduled for Wednesday. This crucial meeting, set to take place at 10 a.m. in the Central Hall of Vidhan Bhawan, will see the 132 newly elected BJP MLAs select the party’s new state legislative leader.

Strong Alliance Support

The decision to hold the legislative meeting comes after assurance from BJP’s alliance partners — the Shiv Sena, led by caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and the NCP, headed by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. 

A senior BJP leader, speaking anonymously, confirmed that all issues with the allies had been resolved, paving the way for a smooth government formation. "There are absolutely no hurdles in government formation. The decision on the oath-taking ceremony was made only after all issues were settled," the leader said.

Will Fadnavis Lead Mahayuti Government?

BJP insiders have hinted that Devendra Fadnavis will be appointed as Chief Minister of the BJP-led Mahayuti government in Maharashtra. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for December 5 at Azad Maidan, Mumbai. 

Addressing concerns over power-sharing between the BJP and Shiv Sena, a senior source stated, “If there had been any unresolved issues, we wouldn’t have confirmed the oath-taking date.”

According to reports, Fadnavis will be joined by Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar as Deputy Chief Ministers. In the initial phase, the cabinet will include 21 ministers, ensuring representation from all three allies — BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP. Factors such as regional balance and caste/community representation will play a crucial role in the selection of cabinet members.

Full-Fledged Cabinet in the Making

The Maharashtra cabinet can accommodate up to 43 members, including the Chief Minister, and the BJP intends to utilize this capacity fully. Unlike the previous Shinde government, which operated with a restricted cabinet of 29 ministers, the BJP-led Mahayuti is keen on forming a comprehensive cabinet to govern for the full five-year term. With a robust majority of 230 out of 288 seats, the alliance is confident in its mandate.

(Prakash Kumar Pandey)