The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is poised to take control of Maharashtra following a resounding victory in the recent state elections. With the alliance securing 235 seats out of a total of 288, the stage is set for an oath ceremony, which is expected to take place tomorrow.
Deepak Kesarkar, a senior minister from the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena, confirmed that the key figures in the alliance, including the Chief Minister and the deputy CM, will take their oaths at the ceremony. However, decisions regarding other cabinet appointments are still under discussion.
As the alliance celebrates its success, the crucial question of who will become the Chief Minister remains unanswered. Eknath Shinde, the leader of the Shinde faction of Shiv Sena, and Devendra Fadnavis, the senior BJP leader, are the two primary contenders for the top post.
Both leaders have emphasised that the matter will be settled through discussions with the alliance's partners, ensuring there will be no conflict over the decision.
Fadnavis, in particular, stated that from the outset, it was agreed that after the election, leaders from the three parties in the alliance would come together to decide on the Chief Minister.
While the alliance’s victory is undeniable, it also brings back memories of political turbulence in Maharashtra. The rivalry over the Chief Minister’s post has been a longstanding issue, most notably in 2019 when the Shiv Sena, led by Uddhav Thackeray, faced a fallout with the BJP.
Thackeray had sought an equal share of power, including the Chief Minister’s post, but the BJP refused. This disagreement led to the collapse of the NDA alliance and the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, with Thackeray becoming the Chief Minister.
The dynamics shifted in 2022 when Eknath Shinde, once a close ally of Thackeray, led a revolt within the Shiv Sena. With a significant number of legislators backing him, Shinde’s faction broke away and led to the downfall of the MVA government.
This eventually paved the way for Shinde to assume the position of Chief Minister with the support of the BJP and rebel MLAs. The BJP’s role as a senior partner in the government strengthened further when NCP leader Ajit Pawar split from his uncle, Sharad Pawar, and joined the Shinde-led government.
As the state prepares for the oath ceremony, all eyes are on the developments within the alliance. The BJP’s substantial victory in the elections has placed it in a dominant position, but the balance of power between Shinde and Fadnavis is a matter of intense speculation.
Despite the opposition’s criticisms, particularly regarding the possibility of Shinde working under Fadnavis, both leaders have pledged to resolve any disagreements within the alliance.
The political history of Maharashtra in recent years has been marked by power struggles, with shifting alliances and changing loyalties. The episode that led to the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in 2019 was a significant turning point.
At that time, Thackeray’s insistence on a share in the Chief Minister’s position led to a breakdown in the alliance with the BJP. This eventually allowed the Congress and NCP to join forces with Shiv Sena and form a new government, with Thackeray as the Chief Minister.
However, the political landscape has changed once again, and the Shinde-led faction now stands at the forefront of Maharashtra’s governance. The rebellion within Shiv Sena in 2022 and the subsequent alliance with the BJP has given rise to a new political order. With the NCP’s Ajit Pawar also breaking ranks, it seems that the Mahayuti alliance is firmly in control, at least for the time being.
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