Maharashtra CM: Seven days have passed since the Maharashtra assembly election results were announced, with the Mahayuti alliance—comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction)—winning 230 of 288 seats. Despite this decisive victory, the selection of the chief minister remains unresolved, heightening political suspense.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has confirmed that the next chief minister will be from the BJP, a decision made during a Mahayuti meeting in Delhi. He also said that both the Shiv Sena and NCP factions will hold deputy chief minister positions. Pawar sought to downplay concerns about the delay, citing the 1999 government formation, which took a month to finalize.
According to a senior BJP leader, the Sangh Parivar has endorsed Devendra Fadnavis as the next chief minister. The swearing-in ceremony is set for December 5 at 5 PM at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to attend. Meanwhile, the BJP Legislature Party meeting, originally planned for December 1, has been rescheduled to December 3, when two observers from Delhi will meet with BJP MLAs to finalize the CM announcement.
Eknath Shinde, reportedly prepared to accept a deputy chief minister role, is firm in his demand to oversee the Home Ministry. On November 29, Shinde returned to Mumbai after discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Subsequently, he canceled public engagements and traveled to his hometown in Satara, where concerns over his health emerged. A medical team from Mumbai has reached Satara for attending to Shinde.
A major sticking point in the government formation is the distribution of critical ministries, particularly Home and Finance. In the previous government led by Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis managed the Home Ministry, while Ajit Pawar controlled Finance. Reports indicate that Fadnavis is reluctant to relinquish the Home Ministry. The Shinde faction has demanded Home in exchange for accepting the deputy CM position. Discussions with Amit Shah have yet to resolve this impasse.
Sources suggest that the BJP is intent on retaining control of influential ministries, including Home, Revenue, Higher Education, Law, Energy, and Rural Development. In contrast, Shiv Sena has been offered portfolios such as Health, Urban Development, Public Works, and Industry. The NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) is likely to receive Finance, Planning, Cooperation, and Agriculture. Political analysts believe the BJP will not cede the Home Ministry, given its strategic importance in maintaining political leverage.
Despite the Mahayuti alliance’s overwhelming electoral success, the wrangling over key portfolios reveals that internal power-sharing arrangements remain contentious. With the swearing-in ceremony approaching on December 5, all eyes are on how the BJP-led coalition will navigate these disputes and finalize the cabinet lineup in the coming days.
