After Mahayuti resounding victory in Maharashtra, speculation has intensified over who will take the Chief Minister’s chair. The BJP, which led the alliance’s return to power by securing 132 of the 230 seats won by the Mahayuti in the 288-member Assembly, has maintained silence on the matter. However, pressure is mounting from BJP MLAs, many of whom are rallying behind Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for the top post.
A senior state BJP leader said the party wants to ensure “a hurdle-free government formation process including the appointment of the CM” along with its partners Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde and the NCP under Ajit Pawar.
BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis
Emerging as the single largest party with 132 seats in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, the BJP is increasingly seen as poised to stake its claim for the Chief Minister’s post, with Devendra Fadnavis as the frontrunner. Fadnavis, who contested from Maharashtra’s Nagpur South West constituency, secured a resounding victory over Congress’ Prafulla Vinodrao Gudadhe, winning by an impressive margin of 39,710 votes. Within the party, leaders and cadres have begun rallying behind Fadnavis, highlighting his credentials as the state’s Chief Minister from 2014 to 2019.
Fadnavis’s leadership during the campaign has been crucial, and the BJP’s strategy to project him as the face of the elections has paid off. His leadership and stature within the party place him as the front-runner, especially as the BJP appears set to claim the lion’s share of the seats. “Ek hai toh safe hai, Modi hai toh mumkin hai,” was his popular slogan, and it resonated with voters, strengthening his position.
Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde
While the BJP pushes for Fadnavis to lead, Shiv Sena leaders are advocating for Eknath Shinde to continue as chief minister. Shinde, who led the Shiv Sena faction after splitting from Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, has enjoyed significant support within his party. Shinde’s leadership during the alliance’s formation and his role in the government’s stability have made him a strong contender for the CM post.
Shinde maintains that the decision will be made collectively. “This is the victory of our team. Once all the numbers are in, we will sit together and decide on the CM post,” Shinde said, signalling that the alliance partners will have a say in the final choice. However, with the BJP leading with around 125 seats, many in the party feel that Fadnavis should lead the next government, leaving Shinde to play a supportive role.
NCP’s Ajit Pawar
Ajit Pawar, the leader of the NCP faction in the Mahayuti alliance, is also a potential candidate for the chief minister’s post, although he has been more reserved in his pursuit of power compared to Fadnavis and Shinde. Pawar’s NCP, who won 40 seats plays a crucial role in the alliance’s success. While there has been no clear statement from Pawar on his ambitions, his influence and strategic alliances make him a key player in the power-sharing talks.
Pawar’s faction has been a vital cog in the Mahayuti’s return to power, but his candidacy for the CM role is unlikely unless the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP leaders come to a consensus that favours him. Given the strong performance of the BJP, the CM decision will ultimately be decided by the party’s top leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.The final decision on Maharashtra’s next CM will not only rest on the local leaders but will also involve significant input from the BJP’s central leadership.
The Mahayuti Victory: A Turnaround for BJP
The Mahayuti’s victory marks a significant shift in Maharashtra’s political landscape. Only a few months ago, the BJP-led alliance had faced a disappointing result in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, where it won only nine of the state’s 48 seats. However, with a strong mandate now in the Maharashtra Assembly, the BJP and its allies are poised for a historic comeback.
The MVA, which includes the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Sharad Pawar faction of NCP, has faced a humiliating defeat. The Congress, which had fielded 101 candidates, is leading in just 20 seats, while Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) have secured far fewer seats than expected. The MVA’s poor performance has raised questions about the future of these parties, particularly the Congress, which faces growing dissatisfaction from its alliance partners.
Who Will Become Maharashtra’s Next CM?
As the Mahayuti celebrates its victory, the focus now shifts to the crucial decision of who will lead the government. Devendra Fadnavis is the frontrunner due to his prominent role in the campaign and his leadership within the BJP. Eknath Shinde’s claim to the CM post is also strong, given the role he played in the formation of the current government. Ajit Pawar remains a dark horse, with his influence in the NCP, but his chances are slim unless there is a shift in the coalition dynamics.
Ultimately, the decision will come down to the Mahayuti leadership, with discussions likely to intensify over the next few days. As the newly elected MLAs from the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP meet to elect their leader, Maharashtra’s political future will hinge on the final choice for chief minister—an announcement that is eagerly awaited by both the alliance and the state’s citizens.