Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has called on his supporters to avoid gathering outside his official residence, ‘Varsha’, or any other location in his support. The plea comes amid growing speculation over who will assume the top position in the state after the BJP-led Mahayuti’s decisive victory in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections.
Shinde, in a post on social media platform X, thanked his supporters for their overwhelming love but requested that no one assemble in his support at ‘Varsha’ or elsewhere. He emphasized the unity of the Mahayuti alliance and reiterated that the government formation would be a collective decision, with no differences of opinion among the coalition partners. He also expressed gratitude for the people’s trust, stating that the focus of the new government would be on serving the common people, including women, children, and farmers.
Despite the Mahayuti securing a commanding 230 seats out of 288, the question of who will take the Chief Minister’s post remains unresolved. Supporters of Shinde argue that he should continue in office, citing his leadership during the election campaign. However, BJP leaders, including Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, are pushing for Fadnavis to become the CM for a third term.
Shiv Sena spokesperson Naresh Mhaske has compared the situation to the Bihar model, where the BJP allowed JD(U)’s Nitish Kumar to continue as CM despite the BJP’s greater seat share. Mhaske believes Shinde should retain the position, stressing that the Mahayuti’s senior leaders will ultimately make the final call.
While the decision remains pending, Shinde’s appeal to his supporters reflects an effort to maintain stability and avoid any unnecessary disruptions during the ongoing discussions about the leadership in Maharashtra.
