Amid intense negotiations within Mahayuti alliance on who would take the top post in Maharashtra, senior alliance partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has ruled out a Bihar model in the state, as suggested by a few Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leaders.
The Shiv Sena leaders have been pushing for their leader Eknath Shinde to return as the chief minister. Earlier on Monday, Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske had called for the “Bihar pattern” to be implemented “for the chief ministerial position, and Eknath Shinde should become CM again”.
In Bihar, Nitish Kumar was made the Chief Minister after his party JD(U) joined hands with the BJP earlier this year.
Denying the possibility of the Bihar model being applied in Maharashtra, BJP national spokesperson Prem Shukla told The Indian Express, “The model applicable to Bihar does not hold true for Maharashtra. In Bihar, the BJP had given a commitment to make Nitish Kumar the CM ahead of elections and honoured it. In Maharashtra, there is no reason for such a commitment as we have a stronger organisational base and leadership.”
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“Above all, the party never gave any commitment of continuing with Shinde as CM after the elections. On the contrary, the top leadership maintained throughout the elections that a decision on the CM would be based on the electoral outcome,” he added.
Meanwhile, amid growing clamour by Shiv Sena leaders vying for making Shinde as the CM, a senior BJP leader told IE, ““The top leadership has categorically conveyed to Shinde and Ajit Pawar its decision to make Fadnavis the next CM. The BJP state legislature meeting is likely to be held in a couple of days in Mumbai where the formal announcement will be made.”
The Maharashtra election outcome has put BJP in an advantageous position. Mahayuti bagged 230 out of 288 seats in the state. Out of this, BJP bagged an overwhelming 132 seats, followed by Shiv Sena (57) and NCP (41).
The BJP remains firm on Fadnavis. “With a mandate of 132 seats, there is no question of surrendering the CM post. The party had paid the price once when Fadnavis was made to give up the CM post to accommodate Shinde in 2022,” another senior BJP leader said.
On Tuesday, Eknath Shinde resigned as the CM and tendered his resignation to governor C P Radhakrishnan to mark the end of the 14th Assembly. He was asked by the governor to take charge as the head of a caretaker administration till the new regime is sworn in.
Amid growing clamour, Shinde took to X on Monday night and said, “After the great victory of Mahayuti, our government will be formed once again in the state. As Mahayuti, we contested the election together and are still together today. Out of love for me, some people have appealed to all to gather in Mumbai. I am deeply grateful for your love. But I appeal that no one should gather in my support in such a manner.”
Echoing similar sentiment, senior Sena leader Deepak Kesarkar said on Tuesday that any decision taken by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi “will be acceptable to all”.
The composition of the Cabinet, along with a CM and two Deputy CMs, is being worked out with caste composition and regional interests under consideration, according to BJP sources, IE reported.