Maharashtra Govt Formation: The Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra, which secured a commanding victory in the recent assembly elections, is grappling with internal disagreements even as it inches towards government formation. The alliance, comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar-led NCP, won 230 of the 288 assembly seats. The BJP emerged as the largest party with 132 seats, followed by the Shiv Sena with 57 and the NCP with 41.
Shiv Sena MLA Gulabrao Patil struck a discordant cord on Sunday by claiming the party could have won 90-100 seats if Ajit Pawar’s NCP had not been part of the Mahayuti. “We contested only 85 seats. Without Ajitdada, we could have won 90-100 seats. Shinde never asked why Ajit Pawar-led NCP was inducted in his government,” said Patil, who is also a minister in the outgoing government, during an interview with a regional news channel, as per news agency PTI.
Patil praised Eknath Shinde, calling him a “large-hearted man who believes in fighting rather than sulking.”
Responding to Patil’s comments, NCP spokesperson Amol Mitkari advised him to refrain from making provocative remarks. “Patil should first think about getting inducted into the ministry. There are little chances of him becoming minister this time,” Mitkari said.
Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad, who narrowly won the Buldhana seat, accused his party colleagues and BJP leaders of undermining his campaign. He alleged that Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav and BJP MLA Sanjay Kute had supported his rival, Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Jayshree Shelke. “Why did Kute meet Shelke in the middle of the night? Why do leaders from allies act like this?” Gaikwad questioned.
Senior BJP leader Raosaheb Danve suggested that the BJP and an undivided Shiv Sena could have achieved a bigger victory had they contested together. “The Shiv Sena split because of Sanjay Raut. You wait for six months; he will cause a rift between Uddhav Thackeray and Aaditya Thackeray as well,” Danve said, as quoted by PTI.
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Eknath Shinde Says Decision On Maharashtra CM Tomorrow, Aaditya Thackeray Terms Delay In Govt Formation As ‘Insult’ To State
Outgoing Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed his full support for the BJP’s decision on the chief ministerial post. “The decision on the CM’s post taken by the BJP leadership will be acceptable to me and Shiv Sena,” Shinde said in his village in Satara district on Sunday.
Speculation surrounds the role of Shinde’s son, Shrikant Shinde, as deputy chief minister, and the Shiv Sena’s demand for the Home portfolio. “Our responsibility has grown because of the massive mandate. We will fulfil people’s aspirations,” Shinde added, as per PTI.
“The Chief Minister candidate will be decided tomorrow,” news agency ANI quoted him as saying in a presser held before he returned to Mumbai.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray criticised the delay in forming the government, calling it an “insult to Maharashtra.” In a post on X, he wrote, “To declare the swearing-in date unilaterally without even staking claim to form the government is pure anarchy.”
To not be able to decide on a chief minister, and form government, for more than a week after result day, is not just an insult to Maharashtra (for taking our state so lightly) but also to the assistance provided by their dearest Election Commission.
It seems that rules only…
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) December 1, 2024
Like his father Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, he also questioned why the President’s Rule had not been imposed despite the delay.
BJP Leader Says Devendra Fadnavis Chosen To Become Maharashtra CM
Devendra Fadnavis is set to become the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra, with his election as the legislature party leader scheduled for either December 2 or 3, PTI reported a senior BJP leader as saying on Sunday evening.
Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced that the oath-taking ceremony for the new government will take place on 5 December at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending. However, the BJP legislature party is yet to elect its leader, delaying the announcement of the chief minister.
While the BJP’s formal decision on the leadership is awaited, speculation surrounds the political dynamics within the ruling Mahayuti (grand alliance), with discussions about possible appointments, including whether Shinde’s son, Shrikant Shinde, will be appointed as the Deputy CM and if Shiv Sena will claim the Home Ministry. Eknath Shinde mentioned that the key leadership decisions regarding government formation would be made through consensus among the alliance partners, including BJP, NCP, and Shiv Sena.
The much-awaited government formation process follows more than a week of uncertainty, after the Mahayuti’s significant victory in Maharashtra’s assembly elections, where BJP emerged as the single largest party with 132 seats. Despite this success, the new government has yet to be formally sworn in. The oath-taking ceremony is planned for December 5 at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to attend.
