It has been seven days since the Maharashtra assembly election results were declared, with the Mahayuti alliance—comprising BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction)—securing 230 of 288 seats. However, the chief minister’s post remains undecided, adding to the political suspense.
CM Will Be from BJP: Ajit Pawar
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has clarified that the next chief minister will be from the BJP. He stated that this decision was made during a Mahayuti meeting in Delhi. Pawar added that both the Shiv Sena and NCP factions will have deputy chief ministers.
"This is not the first time there has been a delay in government formation," Pawar said, citing the 1999 scenario when it took a month to form the government.
Devendra Fadnavis Expected to Be CM
According to a senior BJP leader, the Sangh Parivar has approved Devendra Fadnavis as the next chief minister. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for December 5 at 5 PM at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to attend.
Meanwhile, the BJP Legislature Party meeting, initially scheduled for December 1, has been postponed to December 3. On that day, two observers from Delhi will visit Mumbai to consult with BJP MLAs before officially announcing the CM candidate.
Eknath Shinde Demands Home Ministry
Reports suggest that Eknath Shinde, who is ready to take the position of deputy chief minister, is firm on his demand to control the Home Ministry. On November 29, Shinde returned to Mumbai after meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. He then canceled his scheduled programs and left for his hometown in Satara, where his health reportedly deteriorated, prompting a team of doctors to arrive from Mumbai.
Stalemate Over Home and Finance Ministries
One of the main issues delaying the formation of the government is the distribution of key ministries, particularly Home and Finance. In the previous Shinde-led government, the Home Ministry was under Devendra Fadnavis, and the Finance Ministry was managed by Ajit Pawar. Fadnavis is reportedly unwilling to relinquish the Home Ministry, while Shinde’s faction insists it should control the portfolio if it is to accept the deputy CM position.
The impasse over the allocation of ministries, including Home and Finance, remained unresolved even after discussions with Amit Shah.
BJP Wants to Control Key Portfolios
Sources suggest that BJP is determined to retain control over key departments such as Home, Revenue, Higher Education, Law, Energy, and Rural Development. They have offered Shiv Sena portfolios like Health, Urban Development, Public Works, and Industry. The NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) is being offered portfolios such as Finance, Planning, Cooperation, and Agriculture.
Experts believe that the BJP is unlikely to cede control of the Home Ministry, a critical portfolio that holds significant political influence. This ongoing tussle has delayed the finalization of the cabinet and left key decisions unresolved.
While Mahayuti’s overwhelming electoral victory suggests political stability, the wrangling over key ministries indicates that the power-sharing arrangement still needs ironing out. With the swearing-in date set for December 5, all eyes are now on how the BJP-led alliance resolves these internal disputes in the coming days.
(Prakash Kumar Pandey)
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