Maharashtra New CM 2024 Highlights: Who is the frontrunner for Chief Minister’s post?

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge emphasized the need for “tough decisions” to strengthen the party at the grassroots level following electoral setbacks in Maharashtra and Haryana. At the Congress Working Committee meeting, he stressed the importance of fixing accountability, ensuring internal unity, and avoiding public dissent among leaders.

Kharge pointed to shortcomings in the party’s strategy and called for improving organizational strength from the booth level upwards. He criticized internal bickering and urged leaders to counter rival propaganda effectively. The party must adapt to changing electoral methods and address issues like unemployment and inequality, he said.

Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant refuted claims that caretaker Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was upset and left for his native village Dare in Satara. Samant said Shinde was unwell when he met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi and denied any political reasons for his trip. Shinde has expressed willingness to accept the BJP’s decision on the chief minister’s post. A Mahayuti allies meeting was postponed earlier, but Samant assured government formation would proceed after BJP finalises its legislative leader in the next two days.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge during the CWC meet today acknowledged that the party’s performance in the recent elections was quite below expectations which now highlights the need for introspection moving forward. Kharge also raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process, stating that the increasing reliance on EVMs has led to growing skepticism about their fairness. He called on the Election Commission to ensure that elections are conducted in a transparent and impartial manner.

The Congress Working Committee met to assess the party’s performance in recent elections in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Haryana, and review preparations for the upcoming Delhi polls. The meeting, chaired by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, also discussed strategies to target the government over the Adani issue amid ongoing disruptions in Parliament. The party’s leadership, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and K.C. Venugopal, deliberated on alliances and election strategies for Delhi and next year’s Bihar Assembly polls.

The Congress raised concerns with the Election Commission over “serious inconsistencies” in the Maharashtra poll data and requested an in-person hearing.

Outgoing Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, who returned from New Delhi on Friday morning, is heading to his native village in Satara district, amid ongoing uncertainty over his successor, a week after the state’s assembly poll results. Shinde had informed reporters late Thursday that the next Mahayuti alliance meeting on government formation would take place in Mumbai on Friday. However, PTI reports, citing sources that the meeting will now likely be postponed to Sunday, as Shinde is currently in Dare, his village in western Maharashtra.

Nonagenarian social activist Dr. Baba Adhav has launched a three-day protest in Pune against the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), calling them a “fraud” in the election process. The protest began at Phule Wada, the residence of social reformer Jyotiba Phule, on Thursday.

He criticised the role of money and EVMs in influencing election results, particularly the Maharashtra assembly polls, where the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a landslide victory. Several political leaders, including NCP’s Rohit Pawar, visited Adhav.

Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis returned to Mumbai on Friday after meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi regarding the formation of a new government in Maharashtra. Speaking to reporters late Thursday night, Shinde described the talks as “good and positive.” He added that their next meeting would be held in Mumbai on Friday.

The average age of the newly elected Maharashtra Assembly stands at 54, higher than the 51 years in 2019 and 49 years in 2009. This increase is largely due to the re-election of 183 sitting MLAs. Among the 86 MLAs aged 60 or older, the oldest is 77-year-old Chhagan Bhujbal, a senior NCP leader and Cabinet minister from Yevla. Only 10 newly elected MLAs are aged 35 or younger, with the youngest being 25-year-old Rohit Patil, Congress MLA from Tasgaon-Kavathe Mahankal, and son of the late former Deputy CM R R Patil.

BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday for his support during the Maharashtra Assembly elections. In a post on X, Fadnavis credited Shah for inspiring and motivating the party workers during the elections.

“Expressed my gratitude to Union Minister Amitbhai Shah, for his huge support on the battlefield during the important Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha Elections 2024 and for the way he greatly inspired and motivated the karykartas. On this occasion, our BJP National President JP Nadda ji, Eknath Shinde ji, Ajitdada Pawar, #mahayuti leaders, and colleagues were present too, in New Delhi,” Fadnavis said on X.

NCP chief Ajit Pawar, fresh from his party’s success in the Maharashtra elections, announced on Thursday that the NCP will contest the Delhi assembly elections as part of its effort to regain national party status.

Speaking at a felicitation ceremony at the NCP office in Delhi, Pawar also rejected opposition claims of EVM misuse in the Maharashtra elections. He reaffirmed the unity of the MahaYuti alliance, declaring that it would soon form the government.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi slammed the Mahayuti alliance for failing to decide on a Chief Minister despite securing a significant majority, calling it a disrespect to the people’s mandate. She pointed out that the delay in forming the government was indicative of internal confusion within the alliance.

“The kind of majority you (Mahayuti) have received, it is a disrespect to people’s mandate that you couldn’t decide your CM till now…it is being dragged…had it been Maha Vikas Aghadi, the governor would have stepped in and implemented President rule..” she said.

Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande stated, “Just a couple of days ago, Eknath Shinde addressed a press conference at his Thane residence where he clarified that the entire decision has been left to PM Modi and Amit Shah… He is a part of NDA and an important leader of the alliance. The picture will be clear in a couple of days.”

A total of 78 first-time winners will join the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, making up approximately 27 per cent of its strength.

Among them, 33 are from the BJP, 14 from Shiv Sena, and 8 from the NCP. The Shiv Sena (UBT) has 10 newcomers, while the Congress has elected 6 first-time MLAs, and 4 new faces have emerged from the NCP (SP).

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has raised concerns about the future of Maharashtra’s political landscape, asserting that “everything about Maharashtra will be decided in Delhi.” Speaking at a press conference in Delhi, Raut criticised Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, claiming that their political actions will now be dictated by the central leadership.

“They used to talk about Maharashtra’s self-respect and pride… but those things are no longer there,” Raut said. He pointed out that despite forming separate parties, Shinde and Pawar would now have to frequently visit Delhi to present their demands.

“Modi and Shah ji are the high command now,” Raut added, stressing that Shinde and Pawar would have to comply with the directions from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

Following a massive defeat in the Assembly polls, there are growing tensions within both Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress regarding the future of the alliance. Congress leaders have stated that the final decision will depend on the central party leadership, while NCP (SP) leaders have refrained from commenting on the matter.

In a meeting held yesterday, leaders of the Mahayuti alliance deliberated on cabinet positions and the upcoming swearing-in ceremony. Sources suggest that the BJP is poised to retain the Chief Minister’s post and the Home department, while Shiv Sena is likely to be allocated the Urban Development and Public Works departments. Additionally, Ajit Pawar is expected to take on the Finance portfolio.

Maharashtra’s caretaker Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, stated on Friday that he had “good and positive” discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief J.P. Nadda regarding the formation of the government in the state.

Shinde told reporters that the decision on Maharashtra’s next chief minister would be made “in a day or two” during another meeting of the Mahayuti coalition in the state capital.

The official announcement regarding the Chief Minister’s post is likely within the next two days, following a BJP meeting in Mumbai. After discussions in New Delhi yesterday involving caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, outgoing Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, sources suggest that Fadnavis is the frontrunner for the position, with the NCP reportedly giving its nod.

Devendra Fadnavis seems poised for a comeback as Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, with Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde stepping back from the race. In a press briefing on Thursday, Shinde announced that the final decision lies with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, clearing the path for Fadnavis to take the lead as the BJP’s top contender.

Eknath Shinde is unlikely to accept the position of deputy chief minister in the new government, according to a close aide.

Shiv Sena MLA and spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat confirmed that Shinde would remain in the cabinet but ruled out the deputy CM role for him. “He is unlikely to be a deputy chief minister. It does not befit a person who has already served as chief minister,” Shirsat told PTI. He added that the Shiv Sena, led by Shinde, would put forward another leader for the deputy CM position.

Shrikant Shinde, Shinde’s son and MP, praised his father for adhering to the “alliance dharma,” lauding his commitment to prioritising collective leadership over personal ambition.

Maharashtra caretaker CM Eknath Shinde, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, NCP chief Ajit Pawar, and other Mahayuti leaders held a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda in Delhi.

Maharashtra’s caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and NCP chief Ajit Pawar arrived at the residence of Home Minister in Delhi.

Commenting on the ongoing uncertainty over the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s post, former Rajasthan CM and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot remarked, “When our government was formed in Rajasthan in 2018, it took us only two to three days to decide on the CM. BJP leaders made a big issue out of it back then. Now, in Maharashtra, despite Mahayuti’s one-sided victory, they are still unable to make a decision.”

Visuals of BJP leaders arriving at Amit Shah‘s residence have surfaced. This comes as leaders from Maharashtra are also gathering in Delhi after the recent Assembly polls victory.

Shiv Sena chief and Maharashtra’s caretaker Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, has left Mumbai for Delhi. He is set to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah later this evening.

BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis has arrived in Delhi and is set to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole has raised concerns over a significant rise in voter turnout in the state’s recent assembly elections, demanding an explanation from the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Patole, addressing a press conference, questioned the increase in voter turnout, which, according to him, jumped by over 7 percent after the polls closed on November 20 evening. He pointed out that the voter turnout stood at 58.22% at 5 pm, but by 11:30 pm, it had surged by 7.83 percentage points.

Patole described this as a “discrepancy” and called for an official explanation from the ECI, stating that such anomalies raised doubts about the transparency of the election process.

Eknath Shinde, the outgoing Chief Minister of Maharashtra, is unlikely to accept the position of Deputy Chief Minister in the new government, his close aide Sanjay Shirsat said.

Shirsat, who is an MLA and spokesperson for the Shiv Sena, said Shinde would remain part of the cabinet but would not take on the deputy CM role. “It does not befit a person who has already served as chief minister,” Shirsat told PTI.

He added that the Shiv Sena, led by Shinde, will nominate another leader for the Deputy Chief Minister’s position.

Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis recently stated that the decision on the Maharashtra cabinet will be made by the new Chief Minister once their appointment is finalised. Seen as a leading contender for the CM post, Fadnavis emphasised that the Mahayuti coalition remains united in forming the government.

“Once the chief minister is decided, that person will finase the state cabinet,” Fadnavis told reporters in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Speaking later in Nagpur yestetday, he reiterated that the Mahayuti alliance is united, adding, “All decisions will be made collectively, and we will hold meetings with our senior leaders. If anyone has any doubts, Eknath Shinde has made it clear.”

Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde expressed pride in his father, Maharashtra’s caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, for setting an example of putting the “alliance dharma” above personal ambitions.

In a post on X on Wednesday night, Shrikant praised his father’s strong connection with the people of Maharashtra, highlighting how Eknath Shinde worked tirelessly for the welfare of all sections of society. The Shiv Sena leader, whose party is in alliance with the BJP and NCP, said his father’s faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, noting how he prioritised the alliance over his personal goals.

Shrikant also shared how Eknath Shinde lived like a “common man,” always keeping his doors open to the people at Varsha, the official residence of the chief minister. He added that while power may attract many, his father is an exception—his true priority has always been serving the nation and its people. Shrikant says that he believes his father’s legacy will inspire future generations.