The question of who will be the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra remains unanswered after the Mahayuti alliance secured 235 of the 288 seats in the state assembly. Although BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis and current CM Eknath Shinde are both in the running, no official decision has been made yet.
During the vote counting process, Shinde indicated that the three parties in the alliance would decide the CM candidate after the results were confirmed. Fadnavis, the Deputy CM, reiterated that a meeting with all elected MLAs would be held to finalize the decision.
The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP), secured only 49 seats in the elections. The BJP led with 131 seats, while the Shiv Sena and NCP won 57 and 41 seats, respectively.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar for their roles in the victory. He also pointed out that the Congress’s performance in Maharashtra reflected a wider loss of voter confidence, linking it to their defeat in Himachal Pradesh and Telangana. Modi accused Congress of sinking not only their own fortunes but also those of their allies.
On November 25, NCP head and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar confirmed that discussions were ongoing among Mahayuti partners to finalize the government formation process. Sources suggested that the decision would be delayed until the intervention of a BJP-appointed Central observer.
Pawar also acknowledged the role of the government’s Ladki Bahin scheme, which provides financial assistance to women, in contributing to the Mahayuti’s success.
Shiv Sena leader Raju Waghmare expressed support for Eknath Shinde, citing his popularity as a key factor in the alliance’s win. Waghmare emphasized that Shinde’s leadership had significantly contributed to the electoral success and that, like in cricket, a successful captain should not be replaced. However, he added that the final decision would be left to the Mahayuti leadership.
The assembly election concluded on November 23, after voting on November 20, with a voter turnout of 66.05%. Mumbai City recorded the lowest turnout, while Gadchiroli had the highest.
The Mahayuti alliance now faces the crucial task of finalizing its leadership, with the next steps contingent on internal discussions and BJP’s final decision on the CM position.
