After weeks of negotiations within the Mahayuti alliance, senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis has been chosen as Maharashtra’s Chief Minister. His return underscores the BJP’s dominance in the state, but managing coalition tensions with Shiv Sena and NCP factions remains a key challenge.
By PC Bureau
Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis is poised to take the reins as Chief Minister of Maharashtra on December 5.
This decision was finalized at a BJP core committee meeting earlier today, attended by key party leaders including Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani. The announcement came after weeks of deliberation and political maneuvering within the Mahayuti alliance.
Despite the coalition’s resounding victory in the November 20 elections, which secured 230 seats for the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP alliance, consensus on the leadership issue had been elusive. While Fadnavis emerged as the frontrunner given his successful tenure as a two-term CM and his role in securing the BJP’s continued dominance in the state, tensions between the BJP and its allies simmered behind the scenes.
Eknath Shinde, the outgoing Chief Minister and leader of the Shiv Sena faction allied with the BJP, was reportedly vying for another term at the helm. Shinde’s faction argued that his leadership was instrumental in consolidating the alliance’s strength in the face of opposition from Uddhav Thackeray’s Sena faction and the Maha Vikas Aghadi.
However, the BJP’s landslide performance, crossing the 100-seat mark for the third consecutive time under Fadnavis’s leadership, bolstered his claim for the top post. Reports suggest that Fadnavis enjoyed unwavering support from the BJP high command, which viewed his return as vital to maintaining the party’s dominance in the politically significant state.
Shinde, on the other hand, reportedly sought assurances for key portfolios and greater autonomy for his faction within the government. This led to protracted negotiations, delaying the formal announcement of the new CM.
To project unity, BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar announced that the Mahayuti partners would meet Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan at 3:30 p.m. to stake a claim to form the new government. Fadnavis is set to take his oath at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan on December 5, in what is expected to be a grand ceremony signaling the alliance’s resolve to govern cohesively despite internal differences.
While Fadnavis’s return to the CM post is a significant victory for the BJP, the path ahead is fraught with challenges. Managing the ambitions of allies like Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction and Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction will be crucial to ensuring stability in the Mahayuti alliance.
Moreover, Fadnavis will face the dual task of delivering on the alliance’s electoral promises while balancing the competing interests of coalition partners in portfolio allocations and governance decisions.
As Maharashtra’s political landscape remains dynamic, the focus will be on how Fadnavis navigates these complexities to steer the state towards growth and stability.
