From the DeskShiv Sena leaders support Shinde’s retention, claiming that voters supported the Mahayuti government in Mumbai and that the election was fought under his direction: As the ruling Mahayuti coalition leads Maharashtra with 222 seats at 2:00 pm, there is growing conjecture about who will be the next chief minister of the state: incumbent Eknath Shinde or former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde at a roadshow in Thane. (Shine-X Eknath) With leads in 126 seats, the BJP is poised to make its best showing in Maharashtra and surpass its 2014 record of 122 seats.
In 2019, the party’s performance had deteriorated to 103 seats. BJP insiders predict that the party will likely win the chief ministership in light of this strong mandate, with Fadnavis emerging as the front-runner after acting as the party’s campaign spokesperson. The BJP leadership decided to prominently portray Fadnavis after some initial hesitancy. The party seems poised to appoint him as chief minister after he ran for 149 seats and won 126. Shiv Sena leaders, meanwhile, support Shinde’s retention, claiming that voters supported the Mahayuti government and that the election was fought under his direction. “The party’s top leadership will make the decision. Shinde was appointed chief minister under special circumstances in 2022.
He joined us with 40 MLAs after splintering the Shiv Sena. Then, it was logical to appoint him as chief minister. The BJP currently has a strong mandate because the party is gaining about 125 seats. Therefore, the general populace wants Fadnavis to be in charge of the upcoming administration. Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will decide whether the BJP should be chosen to fill the position of chief minister and, if so, whether Fadnavis should be chosen or someone else. A senior party leader, who wished to remain anonymous because the party has not yet made its stance known, stated, “The mood in the party is clearly in favor of Fadnavis.” Shinde insisted that a group decision would be made: “Everyone on the Mahayuti team collaborated.
This is our team’s victory. We’ll get together and make a decision (about the chief ministership) once all the numbers are in,” he told reporters. For additional discussions, a group of top BJP officials, headed by Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, will travel to Mumbai on Sunday. The next chief minister will be chosen by the newly elected MLAs from each of the three parties. On Sunday, the Mahayuti is anticipated to make its bid to form the government.
Inika Manohar
