Why NCP’s Ajit Pawar would prefer Devendra Fadnavis as Maharashtra CM

Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde has resigned as Maharashtra chief minister, paving the way for the formation of the new Mahayuti government. The alliance led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) scripted a landslide victory in the recently concluded Maharashtra Assembly elections.

It has been three days since the results but the Mahayuti has not declared its chief minister face yet. While the BJP cadre is rooting for Devendra Fadnavis, Shiv Sena leaders are pressing for Shinde’s continuance in the top post.

Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has reportedly backed Fadnavis’ return as Maharashtra CM. Here’s why the Baramati MLA will prefer the BJP leader for the job.

‘Strained’ ties with Eknath Shinde

Tensions between Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde go back to the tenure of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, reports say.

According to India Today, Shinde was unhappy with Thackeray for letting Pawar wield significant authority in the state administration. Eventually, Shinde rebelled and split the then-united Shiv Sena, leading to the collapse of the MVA government in June 2022.

Shinde then came to power with the help of the BJP, which was believed to be behind the revolt in the Shiv Sena. Fadnavis had to be content with the post of Deputy CM.

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When junior Pawar rose against his uncle, Sharad Pawar, and broke away from the NCP to join the Shinde-Fadnavis government last July, Shinde was not pleased, as per the report.

Why Ajit Pawar will back Fadnavis

NCP’s Pawar has cordial ties with Fadnavis and would be happy with Mahayuti picking the BJP leader for the top post. Ajit Pawar had taken oath as Fadnavis’ deputy in 2019 but the government lasted only 80 hours, as the NCP leader pulled out and went back to his uncle.

As per The New Indian Express (TNIE) report, the NCP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) are pushing for Fadnavis’ elevation to the Maharashtra CM post.

The newspaper reported citing sources that Pawar is “more comfortable” with Fadnavis as the CM.

Pawar convened a meeting of newly elected NCP MLAs at his official bungalow recently. At the huddle, the election results were discussed, wherein the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 132 seats. Shinde’s Shiv Sena got 57 seats and the NCP 41.

“In the meeting, it was also discussed that, if necessary, they would pass a resolution and extend their support to Fadnavis as CM. We are waiting for the top leadership of the BJP to make a decision regarding the Chief Minister post. After that, a decision will be taken in our party,” a senior NCP leader told TNIE on the condition of anonymity.

There was consensus on supporting Fadnavis for the CM post at internal meetings, NCP leaders said, as per Indian Express. An NCP spokesperson said the Ajit Pawar-led party has made it clear to the BJP leadership that Fadnavis should be “the first preference” as CM.

While the three parties have insisted that the Mahayuti leaders will pick the CM together, the final decision lies with the BJP top brass.

If Shinde becomes the CM, the Shiv Sena would have an edge over the NCP in the Mahayuti government. As Indian Express noted, Pawar’s party is not in a position to demand the same stature in the government as the BJP given the huge difference in their seats.

Reports say the most likely scenario is that Fadnavis would be CM, with Shinde and Pawar set to be his deputies. As per a Times of India (TOI) report, the BJP has conveyed the decision to go ahead with Fadnavis’ name for the top job to the NCP, which is on board.

The same will be communicated to the Shiv Sena.

What has Shiv Sena said?

So far, the Shiv Sena has not budged from its demand to retain Shinde as the Maharashtra chief minister.

Shiv Sena spokesperson Naresh Mhaske on Monday (November 25) batted for Shinde to continue as the CM citing the Bihar example. “We feel Shinde should be the chief minister, just like in Bihar where BJP did not look at the numbers but still made JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar the CM. Senior leaders of the Mahayuti (in Maharashtra) will ultimately take a decision,” he was quoted as saying by PTI.

However, BJP MLC Pravin Darekar supported Fadnavis to helm the new government, dismissing Mhaske’s comments as his “personal” opinion and not the party’s stand.

“People have given [the] mandate to Devendra Fadnavis. The people of Maharashtra stood behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” said the BJP leader.

Owing to its massive mandate, the BJP is not heavily reliant on its allies to touch the majority mark of 145 in the Maharashtra Assembly. With the NCP on its side, the saffron party can comfortably stake claim to form the government. Both the Shiv Sena and NCP will, however, try to get as many ministerial berths for their parties as they can.

VIDEO | Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde (@mieknathshinde) submits his resignation to Governor CP Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai.#MaharashtraNews

(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/MSIbsNw1cb

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 26, 2024

As the suspense continues, Shinde, who submitted his resignation to Governor CP Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhawan today (November 26), has urged his supporters not to gather outside his official residence ‘Varsha’ in south Mumbai to press for his continuation as the CM.

Shinde will serve as the caretaker CM until the new government is formed.

With inputs from agencies