A senior BJP leader confirmed on Sunday that Devendra Fadnavis’ name has been finalized as the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra, according to PTI. Fadnavis had been one of the top contenders for the position. The leader also mentioned that the meeting to elect the new BJP legislature party leader will take place on either December 2 or 3.
The statement followed remarks by caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who reiterated his “unconditional support” for the decision to be made by the BJP’s top leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and party president JP Nadda.
Shinde also addressed speculation regarding his son, Shrikant Shinde, possibly being appointed as the Deputy CM, as well as his party’s interest in securing the home ministry portfolio.
Earlier, Shinde had indicated that the Maharashtra CM decision would be made by December 2, following a meeting with Mahayuti allies, which include the BJP, Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction, and Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance won a landslide victory in the Maharashtra assembly elections, securing 230 of the 288 seats. The BJP won 132 seats, Shiv Sena secured 57, and NCP bagged 41.
The NDA’s oath-taking ceremony is scheduled for December 5 at Azad Maidan, with PM Modi expected to attend, as announced by BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule.
Meanwhile, despite Shinde’s calls for unity, there have been dissenting views within the alliance. Shiv Sena MLA Gulabrao Patil expressed that his party could have won 90-100 seats if the NCP had not joined the alliance. Similarly, BJP leader Raosaheb Danve stated that if the undivided Shiv Sena and BJP had contested together, they would have won more seats.
As of now, the BJP legislature party meeting to finalize the leader, who will be the CM pick, is yet to occur. Both Shinde and Fadnavis remain strong candidates for the position.
