As the political landscape of Maharashtra gears up for the swearing-in of a new government, BJP leaders and allies within the Mahayuti coalition are finalizing their choices for key positions in the state. With the much-awaited swearing-in ceremony scheduled for December 5, the suspense surrounding the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s post is expected to come to an end tomorrow, December 4, when the BJP’s state legislature party is set to elect its new leader.
BJP’s central leadership has already indicated that Devendra Fadnavis is widely seen as the frontrunner for the Chief Minister’s position. The party has appointed Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani as central observers to oversee the state legislature party meeting, where the final decision will be made. The meeting is expected to take place on the morning of December 4 at Vidhan Bhawan.
Meanwhile, amidst speculation about key ministerial appointments, Eknath Shinde’s son, Shrikant Shinde, clarified that he is not seeking any ministerial position in the new government. Addressing rumors about his potential appointment as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shrikant Shinde stated that he has “no desire for a position in power” and emphasized that he is not in the race for any ministerial role. “Even after the Lok Sabha elections, I had a chance to become a minister in the central government, but I refused it to focus on working for the party organization,” he explained. Shrikant Shinde, the Member of Parliament for the Kalyan constituency, reiterated his commitment to working for the Shiv Sena and his constituency, but firmly ruled out any aspirations for a position of power.
Eknath Shinde, who is currently serving as the caretaker Chief Minister, has already made it clear that he would not stand in the way of the BJP securing the Chief Minister’s position. The Mahayuti alliance, which secured a majority by winning 230 out of 288 assembly seats in the recent state elections, is expected to share key positions in the new government. The BJP emerged as the largest party with 132 seats, while the Shiv Sena and NCP won 57 and 41 seats, respectively.
As the final announcements loom, BJP leaders, including Girish Mahajan, considered close to Fadnavis, have been meeting with key stakeholders, including Eknath Shinde, to solidify the government’s formation. With all eyes on December 4, the future leadership of Maharashtra is about to take shape, and the political dynamics of the state are expected to undergo a significant shift.
