Whether the political landscape in Maharashtra has stabilized or not, with the Mahayuti alliance taking time to finalize its government, remains uncertain because the question of who will head the state and lead as Chief Minister remains unpicked.
Thursday evening’s high-profile meeting in New Delhi, attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, and NCP’s Ajit Pawar, hoped to iron out the finer details regarding cabinet portfolio allocations. However, no consensus was reached.
The key developments are the cancellation of Mahayuti’s meeting from Mumbai and the sudden departure to his native village in Satara by Eknath Shinde, sparking speculation about his dissatisfaction. Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant, however, says that there is no news at all about Shinde going upset. “He had to visit his village and will return tomorrow,” he said
Sources suggest the BJP will get the Chief Minister, with Fadnavis expected to return for a third term. The formula of one Chief Minister and two Deputy Chief Ministers is likely to be continued, with Ajit Pawar of the NCP likely to retain Finance and Shinde’s camp looking for Urban Development.
The BJP, which has won 132 of the 288 seats, may retain 22 cabinet berths, while Shiv Sena and NCP will claim 12 and 9 portfolios, respectively. Shiv Sena’s Shinde was reportedly reluctant to become a Deputy Chief Minister and has, instead, proposed his son Shrikant Shinde for the position.
With the suspense, sources indicate that oath-taking might now be scheduled on December 5. With growing pressure, the Mahayuti leadership has to find the middle ground between power-sharing dynamics and unity within the coalition.
To Read More: Global