The election results in Maharashtra were announced ten days ago, yet not only has a government not been formed, but there's also no announcement about who will be the Chief Minister. After a series of marathon meetings from Mumbai to Delhi, it has been decided that the Chief Minister will be from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but who exactly will take the role is still unknown. Speculation is rife whether the acting Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, is the barrier to forming the grand alliance government in Maharashtra.
This debate about CM Shinde is not entirely baseless. Recently, both CM Shinde and former Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar were summoned to Delhi by the BJP leadership. Eknath Shinde, Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar met with BJP President JP Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah. After a marathon meeting lasting three hours at Amit Shah's residence, all three leaders returned to Mumbai that very night. A meeting of the grand alliance leaders was scheduled in Mumbai, but Eknath Shinde went to his native village in the Satara district and stayed there for two days, delaying the meeting.
Eknath Shinde returned to Mumbai the evening before but did not go to the official CM residence, Varsha, instead staying in Thane. According to an official statement from Shinde, he is unwell with a throat infection. Citing his illness, Shinde has canceled all programs scheduled for December 2. Meanwhile, leaders from Shinde's faction are batting for key departments like Home and others, insisting on retaining all departments they held for the past two and a half years, indicating pressure politics.
Read also: 'Maharashtra's CM Name Decided, Awaiting BJP Leadership's Seal,' Claims Former Union Minister
On one hand, the delay in the grand alliance's meeting, where discussions on the distribution of departments like Home, Urban Development, and Revenue were to take place, persists as Shinde's faction applies pressure to keep all critical departments. Amidst all this, the BJP, while not announcing a CM, has set the swearing-in date, conveying a clear message that the CM will be from BJP, not the grand alliance. The swearing-in of Maharashtra's next Chief Minister is scheduled for December 5 at 5 PM at Azad Maidan.
Read also: BJP's Message to Eknath Shinde by Setting Swearing-In Date on December 5
However, the Shinde faction argues the BJP's legislative meeting is yet to happen, following which they will announce their CM candidate. Any decisions made in the grand alliance meeting would also need approval from Home Minister Amit Shah. Hence, it is said that each process is in standby mode as meetings aren't happening due to Shinde. Whether health issues are the reason or politics, remains the subject of debate, especially since Shinde's faction continues to apply pressure with their demands.
In the midst of this ongoing stalemate in Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar is heading to Delhi. There are talks of Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare joining Ajit on this trip. Ajit and other NCP leaders will meet with senior BJP leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah.
