Mumbai: With just days left until the oath-taking ceremony of Maharashtra’s Mahayuti government on December 5, Devendra Fadnavis is set to return as Chief Minister. The decision will be finalized at the BJP legislature party meeting, expected to be held on December 2 or 3, a senior BJP leader revealed.
Outgoing CM Eknath Shinde confirmed his support for the BJP’s decision, stating that Shiv Sena would back Fadnavis’ leadership. However, the Mahayuti alliance—comprising BJP, Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar-led NCP—continues to navigate internal dynamics as ministerial positions are discussed.
BJP Leads the Alliance, Faces Aspirational Challenges
The BJP emerged as the single largest party in the recent elections, securing 132 of the 288 assembly seats. Shiv Sena won 57, while NCP bagged 41, contributing to the Mahayuti alliance’s overwhelming 230-seat victory. Despite this, the BJP faces balancing its allies’ aspirations, particularly Shiv Sena’s push for key portfolios like Home and its demand for a Deputy Chief Minister position for Shrikant Shinde, son of Eknath Shinde.
Eknath Shinde reiterated on Sunday that all decisions would be made through consensus, adding, “There are no ifs and buts. I support the BJP’s leadership choice wholeheartedly.” He also dismissed speculation about differences within the alliance, emphasizing unity.
Oath-Taking Ceremony Details
The new government will be sworn in on December 5 at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to attend the event. However, the Mahayuti leaders have yet to finalize whether only the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers will take the oath or if other ministers will join the ceremony.
Voices of Dissent and Strategic Calculations
While Shinde has downplayed disagreements, several Mahayuti leaders have expressed concerns. Shiv Sena MLA Gulabrao Patil claimed their party could have won more seats had Ajit Pawar’s NCP not joined the alliance. Similarly, BJP’s Raosaheb Danve criticized the Shiv Sena split, arguing that a united BJP-Sena front would have achieved a more significant victory.
Danve further accused Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut of engineering the Sena’s division and predicted future rifts within the Thackeray family. Meanwhile, allegations of internal sabotage surfaced, with Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Gaikwad accusing party members of conspiring to field rival candidates against him.
Challenges Ahead for Mahayuti
With a massive mandate, the Mahayuti alliance faces the challenge of maintaining cohesion amid competing ambitions. The BJP legislature party meeting, anticipated on December 2, will set the tone for the new government’s leadership and power-sharing formula.
As the political landscape of Maharashtra transitions, all eyes are on December 5, when the Fadnavis-led government will officially take charge.
Sidenote: This news report is curated with insights from multiple reliable news sources.
