In a significant development in Maharashtra’s political landscape, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis is poised to assume the Chief Minister’s position, while Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar are expected to serve as Deputy Chief Ministers.
According to highly placed sources within the BJP, the party’s central leadership has cleared Fadnavis’s name for the top post, with the proposal gaining the backing of alliance partners Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) and the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction). “Fadnavis’s name has been approved for CM by the BJP leadership,” revealed a senior BJP source to The Indian Express.
Alliance Dynamics
Leaders of the Mahayuti coalition have reportedly agreed on this arrangement. “Apart from Fadnavis as CM, both Shiv Sena and NCP will have one Deputy CM each,” said an insider from the alliance to The Indian Express.
However, a senior Shiv Sena leader expressed reservations to The Indian Express, stating, “There has been no consultation with us on making Fadnavis the CM, and our party has not agreed on any name for CM yet.”
Fadnavis and BJP Leaders Speak
Fadnavis downplayed any speculations of disagreements within the Mahayuti coalition, asserting that the CM decision would be made collectively. State BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule echoed this sentiment, stating, “Leaders of the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the BJP leadership will decide who will be the next chief minister of the state.”
This potential reshuffle comes after the Mahayuti coalition’s resounding victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, securing 230 of the 288 seats.
