Moments after Eknath Shinde stepped aside and made way for the BJP, sources within the saffron party said the next Maharashtra Chief Minister will be from the BJP. Party sources added that there will be two deputies, although the names are yet to be finalized.
Eknath Shinde, a contender for the Chief Minister’s post in Maharashtra, has stepped aside, leaving the decision in the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking to reporters, Shinde emphasized that he would not create obstacles and supported any decision PM Modi makes. “I am not greedy for any position,” he stated, adding that all alliance leaders will meet BJP strategist Amit Shah on Thursday.
Following the BJP’s significant win in the assembly elections, Devendra Fadnavis was widely expected to return as Chief Minister. However, the absence of an official announcement since Saturday hints at internal resistance from the Shinde-led faction of the Shiv Sena.
Shinde Faction’s Pitch: Shinde’s faction has pushed for his leadership, citing welfare schemes under his tenure that contributed to the Mahayuti alliance’s victory. Comparisons were drawn to Bihar, where Nitish Kumar plays a leading role despite the BJP’s stronger electoral performance.
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Alleged Pre-Election Deal: Off-record claims from Shinde’s camp suggest that the BJP had promised the Chief Ministership to them ahead of the elections. This echoes a similar controversy in 2019 when the Shiv Sena (then undivided) accused the BJP of reneging on a CM deal, leading Uddhav Thackeray to form a government with Congress and NCP.
The BJP, with 132 seats in the 288-member assembly, needs just one ally to form the government. Ajit Pawar of the NCP has openly backed Fadnavis for the Chief Minister’s position, adding to the BJP’s leverage.
In a heartfelt declaration, Shinde referred to himself as a “common man” and a “ladka bhai” (fighter). “Since becoming Chief Minister, I did not take a single day off… I fight, I don’t cry… I will work for Maharashtra till my last breath.”
Assembly Election Results
BJP: 132 seats
Shiv Sena (Shinde faction): 57 seats
NCP: 41 seats
Majority mark: 145 seats
What’s Next?
The alliance is set to meet with Amit Shah, and a decision on Maharashtra’s Chief Minister is expected soon. While Fadnavis remains the frontrunner, Shinde’s capitulation underscores the BJP’s dominant position in deciding the state’s leadership.
This decision will mark the next chapter in Maharashtra’s complex political landscape, shaped by alliances and negotiations over power-sharing.
