The suspense surrounding the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra is set to conclude today as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prepares to elect its legislative party leader during a crucial National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting. The BJP has appointed Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani as central observers for the legislative party meeting. This significant meeting is expected to bring clarity on the CM post, ending weeks of speculation.
According to reports, the day will begin with a core committee meeting led by Sitharaman and Rupani at 10 am, followed by the much-awaited legislative party meeting at 11 am, where the party’s CM candidate will be chosen. Once the leader is elected, the Mahayuti alliance is anticipated to announce the new Chief Minister’s name, setting the stage for the formation of the next state government. Around 12 pm, the CM-elect, along with the deputy CM-elects, will meet Maharashtra’s Governor CP Radhakrishnan to stake their claim to form the government.
Although no official confirmation has been made, reports indicate that Devendra Fadnavis is the frontrunner for the Chief Minister’s position. The BJP has also confirmed that the swearing-in ceremony will take place on December 5 at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and other senior leaders set to attend.
In a significant political move, Devendra Fadnavis met Maharashtra’s caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at his official residence in Mumbai on Tuesday evening. This meeting came just a day before the crucial legislative party meeting and fueled further speculation about Shinde’s dissatisfaction regarding not being considered for a second term as Chief Minister. Reports suggest Shinde was unhappy with the situation but later attributed his recent retreat to his village in Satara as a need for rest following an intense election campaign.
The Mahayuti alliance, a coalition of the BJP, Shiv Sena, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), emerged victorious in the recent Maharashtra assembly elections, securing 230 of the 288 seats. The BJP, with 132 seats, emerged as the largest party in the state, followed by Shiv Sena with 57 seats and NCP with 41 seats.
With Maharashtra’s political future in flux, all eyes will now be on the developments today, which will have a significant impact on the state’s governance. The BJP, supported by its allies, will look to deliver on the promises made during the election campaign while ensuring the stability of the coalition. The official swearing-in ceremony scheduled for December 5 will mark the beginning of a new political era for Maharashtra, with national leaders in attendance to witness this pivotal moment.