Maharashtra Govt Formation: Fadnavis Set to Take Over, but Uncertainty Lingers

GG News Bureau
Mumbai, 3rd Dec. As the swearing-in ceremony of Maharashtra’s new government nears on December 5, the question of who will be the state’s chief minister appears to be all but settled. Devendra Fadnavis, the former chief minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, is widely expected to assume the top post. However, political maneuvering and discussions within the ruling coalition continue as leaders finalize the structure of the new administration.

On Monday, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar flew to Delhi while Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde, Maharashtra’s caretaker chief minister, remained in Mumbai. Both leaders met with party workers and strategized ahead of the impending announcement. The final confirmation of the chief minister’s name is anticipated on December 4, a day before the official swearing-in.

Meanwhile, the state’s political landscape has seen some turbulence as Eknath Shinde, who was responsible for leading the Shiv Sena faction during the party split, was briefly hospitalized on Tuesday. Shinde, who had developed a fever and throat infection during his visit to his native Satara, assured the media that his condition was improving, despite the advice of doctors to undergo a full health examination.

In a significant development, the BJP appointed central observers for its legislature party meeting scheduled for December 4. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani will oversee the selection of the new party leader, who is likely to be Fadnavis. This move came shortly after BJP sources confirmed that Fadnavis was the frontrunner for the chief minister’s role, although the announcement was yet to be made.

The deputy chief minister positions remain a topic of discussion within the coalition. The Shiv Sena and NCP are likely to be allotted these positions, as part of the Mahayuti alliance’s power-sharing arrangement. Shinde has already made it clear that he will not obstruct the BJP’s claim to the chief minister’s post. This clarification has eased tensions, although speculation continues around his role in the new government.

In the recently concluded state assembly elections, the Mahayuti alliance secured a strong mandate, winning 230 of the 288 seats. The BJP led the charge with 132 seats, while the Shiv Sena and NCP bagged 57 and 41 seats, respectively. Despite the BJP’s numerical advantage, the alliance’s internal dynamics mean that Shinde and his faction are still key players in the negotiations surrounding the new government.

In an interesting turn, Shinde’s son, Shrikant Shinde, who represents the Kalyan Lok Sabha constituency, publicly distanced himself from the speculation that he might be appointed to a ministerial post. Shrikant emphasized that he had no desire for any position in the government, reinforcing his commitment to party work over individual power.

Additionally, the BJP’s Sudhir Mungantiwar sparked debate over the potential increase in the grant for the Ladki Bahin scheme, which currently provides ₹1,500 per month to women. Mungantiwar mentioned that the state cabinet would decide on raising the grant to ₹2,100, though he did not offer further details.

With the official announcement of the chief minister to be made on December 4, the final pieces of the puzzle will soon fall into place. However, the intricate political negotiations and ongoing developments suggest that while the question of the CM’s identity is largely resolved, the broader dynamics of Maharashtra’s new government will continue to unfold in the coming days.