Since the results of Maharashtra’s assembly elections on November 23, the question on everyone’s mind has been: Who will be the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra? Political pundits and voters alike are eagerly awaiting an answer as the Mahayuti alliance prepares to announce its decision. Caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, NCP leader Ajit Pawar, and Union Minister Amit Shah are set to meet in Delhi on Thursday night to finalize the name for the top post.
Fadnavis the Likely Choice
The meeting is expected to lead to a decision in favor of Devendra Fadnavis, with sources indicating that he is the frontrunner. Despite strong demands from Shiv Sena leaders for Eknath Shinde to continue in office, Shinde has made it clear that he is willing to step aside for the BJP’s preferred candidate. On Wednesday, he conveyed to Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah that he would respect the BJP’s decision regarding the next Chief Minister.
Shinde Unlikely to Accept Deputy CM Role
A close aide of Shinde has indicated that the current Chief Minister is not likely to accept the deputy CM position in the new government. Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat added that while Shinde would be part of the new cabinet, it would not be appropriate for him to hold the deputy CM post after having already served as Chief Minister.
Shinde’s son, Shrikant Shinde, a Member of Parliament, praised his father for exemplifying “alliance dharma” by prioritizing collective governance over personal ambition. He expressed pride in his father’s commitment to supporting PM Modi and Amit Shah and placing the state’s interests above his own political aspirations.
BJP’s Strong Victory in Maharashtra
The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a decisive victory in the state assembly elections, winning 230 out of 288 seats. The BJP itself secured 132 seats, the highest among all alliance partners. Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, won 57 seats, while Ajit Pawar’s NCP bagged 41 seats. The Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, on the other hand, suffered a significant setback, with Congress winning only 16 seats, NCP(SP) securing 10, and Uddhav Thackeray’s UBT winning 20.
Shinde Resigns as CM; Caretaker Role Continues
Following the election results, Eknath Shinde resigned as Chief Minister on Tuesday, as required by the constitutional process. Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan has asked Shinde to continue in a caretaker role until a new government is formed. The Mahayuti alliance is now finalizing its decision on the next Chief Minister, with Fadnavis expected to take the reins in the coming days.
