Eknath Shinde stepped down as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Tuesday following the decisive victory of the Mahayuti alliance in the recently concluded state assembly elections. After submitting his resignation to Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan requested Shinde to serve as caretaker CM until his successor takes office. This move comes amidst ongoing discussions over the leadership of Maharashtra following the strong performance of the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition in the state elections.
The Mahayuti coalition, consisting of the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction), secured a resounding majority, winning 230 out of 288 seats. However, the question of who will assume the chief ministerial role has sparked significant political debate.
A Tussle for Power:
The BJP, emerging as the single-largest party with 132 seats, is pushing for Devendra Fadnavis to take the top position. On the other hand, the Shiv Sena, which won 57 seats, is lobbying for Shinde to continue, citing his leadership as instrumental in the alliance’s electoral success. Sena leaders also pointed to a precedent set by the BJP’s arrangement in Bihar, where Nitish Kumar retained the CM role despite the BJP being the dominant coalition partner.
Supporters within the Shiv Sena, including senior leaders like Deepak Kesarkar and Naresh Mhaske, have publicly expressed their preference for Shinde, emphasizing that his leadership has bolstered the alliance’s performance. Meanwhile, Fadnavis’ supporters argue that the BJP’s electoral strength justifies his claim to the post.
Shinde Appeals for Calm:
Amid this leadership tussle, Shinde urged his followers not to stage demonstrations in his favor, highlighting the alliance’s unity. “We contested and won the elections as a grand alliance, and we will form the government as a united front,” Shinde stated, addressing his supporters via social media.
Shinde’s political journey gained prominence in 2022 when he broke away from Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership and took over the Shiv Sena with the support of 40 MLAs. His tenure as CM marked significant shifts in Maharashtra’s political landscape, particularly aligning with the BJP.
As discussions continue, the Mahayuti coalition is expected to soon make a unanimous decision on the leadership.
(By Ankita Singh, Web Team at C6N)
