'Pawar' Play: Ajit Stands Firmly Behind Fadnavis For Maharashtra CM, Say Reports

Ajit Pawar has expressed his support for fellow Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis to become the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra, according to an India Today report.

Pawar reportedly conveyed this support during a meeting with newly-elected NCP legislators at his residence on Sunday.

On Saturday, sources revealed that Eknath Shinde had staked a claim to the Chief Minister's post, attributing the "Ladli Behan" scheme - believed to be a key factor in the Mahayuti alliance's significant electoral victory in Maharashtra - as his own initiative.

So, why has Ajit Pawar decided to back Devendra Fadnavis as the next Chief Minister?

Since the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance in 2019, which included the Shiv Sena (then united), NCP, and Congress, relations between Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde have been strained.

The rift within the Shiv Sena in 2022 is thought to have been triggered by Shinde's dissatisfaction with Uddhav Thackeray giving Ajit Pawar considerable influence over the state's administration.

Thackeray's rare presence at the Mantralaya (state secretariat) allowed Pawar to dominate the bureaucracy, which created tension between Shinde and Thackeray.

This eventually led Shinde to split from the Shiv Sena, taking a large chunk of MLAs with him to form a government with the BJP in 2022. Ajit Pawar's later breakaway from his uncle Sharad Pawar to form a separate NCP faction added fuel to the discord with Shinde.

However, the final decision on the next Chief Minister will only be made following a joint meeting of senior leaders from Shinde's Shiv Sena, Ajit Pawar's NCP, and the BJP high command.

In the recent elections, the BJP secured a commanding lead, winning 132 of the 149 seats it contested, while Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena won 57 and Ajit Pawar's NCP 41. In comparison, the Congress claimed victory in just 16 seats, Shiv Sena (UBT) in 20, and NCP (SP) in 10.

With the BJP winning 133 of Mahayuti's 232 seats, questions remain about whether Devendra Fadnavis will be appointed Chief Minister or whether he will again serve as deputy to Eknath Shinde, whose Shiv Sena holds just 57 seats. The final decision is still awaited.