BJP may keep CM post, Shiv Sena to get plum Cabinet berths: What Maharashtra government could look like

After Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde hinted at ceding his claim to the top job, all eyes are now on who will occupy the post. The Shiv Sena chief said on Wednesday (November 27) that he would not be a “hurdle” in government formation.

His announcement is seen as an end to the deadlock on the Maharashtra chief minister post four days after the Mahayuti romped home with 230 of the 288 seats in the Maharashtra Assembly polls. Of this, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 132 seats, while its allies – Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) – got 57 and 41 seats respectively.

Shinde’s indication that he is out of the race has paved the way for a BJP leader to become the next Maharashtra CM, with Devendra Fadnavis considered the frontrunner.

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Let’s take a closer look.

What Eknath Shinde said

Shinde has said his Shiv Sena would support the decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the next Maharashtra CM.

Addressing a press conference at his residence in Thane on Wednesday, the caretaker CM said, “I spoke to the prime minister and the home minister and said that there will be no obstacle from our side in government formation. Modi ji is the leader of the NDA [National Democratic Alliance] and I said that whatever their decision is and whoever their CM candidate is, the Shiv Sena will fully support him.”

His remarks come amid Shiv Sena leaders pushing for Shinde’s comeback as the Maharashtra chief minister, with some even citing the “Bihar model”.

Shinde rubbished reports that he was unhappy over being asked to drop his claim over the top job. “I am not disappointed. We fight and don’t cry,” he said.

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#WATCH | Thane: Maharashtra caretaker CM and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde says, "For the past 2-4 days you must have seen rumours that someone is miffed. We are not people who get miffed...I spoke with the PM yesterday and told him that there is no obstruction from our end in… pic.twitter.com/IvFlgD5WQI

— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2024

His comments indicate that he has bowed out of the Maharashtra CM race, which clears the decks for the BJP leadership to pick any candidate of its choice.

Responding to Shinde’s announcement, Fadnavis said that the BJP’s top brass will take a call on the CM face.

“After Eknath Shinde ji’s media conference, there are no doubts in anybody’s mind. A decision on government formation will be taken by the central leadership after due deliberation with state leaders from the three parties. Just as we had decided before the election, all decisions are being taken amicably,” he said in Nagpur.

VIDEO | "There is no difference of opinion among Mahayuti partners. Even before the elections, we had said that we will make a decision (over the CM) together. Today, Eknath Shinde ji has cleared all doubts that were there among some people. We will soon sit together and make a… pic.twitter.com/KZM6VFOiNE

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 27, 2024

Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule “thanked” Shinde for saying that he will abide by the BJP leadership’s decision.

“I want to thank Shinde. He… made clear his stand on the chief minister’s post. He has taken an important stand. I am proud of him,” he was quoted as saying by PTI.

Shinde, Fadnavis and NCP’s Ajit Pawar will meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Thursday to discuss the power-sharing deal between the three Mahayuti parties.

Who will get what?

The BJP is likely to retain the CM post, while the formula of two deputies could continue – one from NCP and the other from Shiv Sena.

Shinde, who publicly hinted at giving up his claim to the Maharashtra CM post, would have done so only after securing “plum portfolios” for his party, noted Indian Express. Sources told the newspaper that Shinde could have even bagged an additional berth in the Union Cabinet for Shiv Sena.

Maharashtra has 43 Cabinet berths. As per Hindustan Times (HT), the BJP is likely to keep 22 berths including the CM post, while the Shiv Sena could get 12 portfolios and the NCP nine.

Shiv Sena could get three key ministries – Urban Development, Public Works Department (PWD) and Water Resources – in the Maharashtra Cabinet, NDTV’s sources said.

Fadnavis, who is being projected as the next CM, is likely to retain the home department. The NCP could get the finance portfolio.

“Home, finance, UDD [urban development department] and revenue are considered the three most critical departments. Of these, two will go to the BJP and one each to the two allies. Fadnavis is keen on the home portfolio as policing, which falls under the home department, is directly linked to the image of the government,” a senior BJP leader told HT.

When is the Maharashtra CM’s oath-taking ceremony?

The swearing-in ceremony of the new Maharashtra CM could take place either on November 30 or December 1, Ajit Pawar told reporters.

He also confirmed the government will have two deputy chief ministers, PTI reported.

Besides the CM and his deputies, 20 MLAs are also likely to take oath as Cabinet Ministers, sources told Indian Express. This will include 10 MLAs from the BJP, six from Shinde’s Sena and four from the NCP.

However, as per an HT report, the oath ceremony is expected to be held on Monday (December 2) due to PM Modi and Amit Shah’s busy schedule this week.

With inputs from agencies