Given the decisive results, with the BJP bagging an overwhelming 132 seats, followed by Shiv Sena (57) and NCP (41), it is learnt that the BJP leadership in Delhi is not happy with the “pressure tactics” adopted by Shinde supporters to make him Chief Minister again.
In a clear indication of the state of play Tuesday in Maharashtra over who will head the new Mahayuti government, senior alliance partner BJP ruled out a Bihar model in the state as suggested by a few Shiv Sena leaders who have been pushing for their leader Eknath Shinde to return to the helm as Chief Minister.
Asked about suggestions from the Sena camp that referred to Bihar, where NDA partner JD(U)’s head Nitish Kumar is Chief Minister, BJP national spokesperson Prem Shukla told reporter, “The model applicable to Bihar does not hold true for Maharashtra. In Bihar, 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. 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.”
Shukla’s comments came on a day when Shinde resigned as Chief Minister of the previous government to mark the end of the 14th Assembly and was asked by Governor C P Radhakrishnan to take charge as the head of a caretaker administration till the new regime is sworn in.
Given the decisive results, with the BJP bagging an overwhelming 132 seats, followed by Shiv Sena (57) and NCP (41), it is learnt that the BJP leadership in Delhi is not happy with the “pressure tactics” adopted by Shinde supporters to make him Chief Minister again.
A senior BJP leader said the growing clamour among Sena leaders “has not gone down well” in Delhi. “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 Delhi-based leader also indicated that the deadlock will be resolved soon in the BJP’s favour, and even pointed to the possibility of a joint legislative meeting where BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP “will endorse the candidature” of Fadnavis.
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”.
