The suspense lingers over the new Chief Minister in Maharashtra as the grand alliance zeroes in on ministerial allocation before actualizing government formation. Sources reveal leaders, buoyed by the historic victory, are not rushing to announce a CM candidate. Instead, the alliance is focused on finalizing the ministerial distribution strategy to prevent post-formation discord. Essentially, ministerial seats will be consensually decided first, followed by the CM face announcement. A newcomer from the BJP might be expected for the CM post this time.
Sources indicate the alliance's top leadership is currently deliberating over the Maharashtra Cabinet formation. Following this, there will be an MLA meeting for the CM announcement.
Power-Sharing Strategy to be Defined First
Shiv Sena sources reveal BJP leaders are currently in a wait-and-watch mode regarding the CM and ministerial allocation, with no central observers appointed yet. Thus, no date and time have been set for the MLA meeting. Internal sources disclose the alliance will first decide on the power-sharing formula, then allocate ministerial positions, and finally announce the CM's name.
What Could the Decided Formula Be?
Maharashtra holds 288 seats in total with the government potentially involving 43 ministers, including the Chief Minister. Sources claim BJP intends to retain the Home Department and at least 20 ministries. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena aims for a second-ranking position with 11-12 ministries, and discussions are ongoing about NCP receiving 10 departments. Ajit Pawar may likely continue to hold the Finance Ministry, whereas Shiv Sena specified Eknath Shinde won't accept the Deputy CM role.
Earlier on Tuesday, Eknath Shinde visited the Raj Bhavan to resign from the Chief Minister role, and the Governor has appointed him as the acting CM until the new government forms. The BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance achieved a spectacular electoral win. However, a consensus among coalition parties about who should take the CM position remains undeclared.
The BJP-led grand alliance clinched 230 out of 288 seats in the election. Specifically, BJP won 132, Shiv Sena secured 57, and NCP grabbed 41 seats. Former CM Devendra Fadnavis is leading the race for the new CM, with Shiv Sena pushing for Eknath Shinde's reinstatement as CM. Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar's NCP has also shown agreement on Fadnavis’s name.
