Devendra Fadnavis Approved as Maharashtra Chief Minister; Legislature Party Meeting Scheduled Soon

Devendra Fadnavis has been confirmed as the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra. A senior BJP leader announced that he will be elected as the legislature party leader in a meeting scheduled for December 2 or 3. Outgoing Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed his support for the BJP's decision regarding the new chief minister.

The Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, NCP, and Shiv Sena, is yet to finalise the government formation. Discussions are ongoing about whether only the chief minister and deputy chief ministers will take oath on December 5 or if other ministers will also be sworn in. The oath-taking ceremony is set to take place at Azad Maidan in Mumbai with Prime Minister Modi in attendance.

Government Formation and Alliance Dynamics

Eknath Shinde mentioned that talks are underway about his son Shrikant Shinde potentially becoming a Deputy Chief Minister. The Shiv Sena is also interested in securing the Home portfolio. Shinde emphasised that decisions will be made collectively by the Mahayuti allies through consensus.

Despite Shinde's assurances of unity within Mahayuti, some leaders have voiced differing opinions. Former Union Minister Raosaheb Danve suggested that a united Sena and BJP could have secured more seats. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MLA Gulabrao Patil claimed their party could have won more seats without Ajit Pawar's NCP in the alliance.

Internal Differences and Speculations

Differences among Mahayuti allies surfaced when Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Gaikwad accused local MP Prataprao Jadhav of colluding with Uddhav Thackeray's confidante to field a candidate against him. Additionally, Raosaheb Danve blamed Sanjay Raut for causing a split within Shiv Sena, predicting further rifts.

Shinde returned to Mumbai after spending time in his native village due to health issues. He reiterated his support for the BJP's decision on the chief minister's post and assured there were no differences among allies. "There are no ifs and buts. My health is fine now," he stated.

Ongoing Discussions and Future Plans

A meeting took place last week in Delhi with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss government formation details. The BJP is proceeding cautiously due to increased expectations from its allies following their electoral success. The Mahayuti alliance won 230 out of 288 assembly seats, with the BJP securing 132 seats.

Despite the upcoming oath-taking ceremony, there remains uncertainty about the timing of the BJP legislature party meeting. A BJP leader mentioned that MLAs have not yet been informed about the meeting schedule, although it was confirmed for December 2.

Amidst these developments, Maharashtra NCP chief Sunil Tatkare stated that discussions would determine whether only top leaders would take oath or if ministers would also be included. As preparations continue, all eyes remain on how the new government will shape up under Devendra Fadnavis's leadership.