Maharashtra’s political landscape shifted dramatically as Chief Minister Eknath Shinde resigned on November 26, 2024, just hours before the conclusion of the state government’s five-year term. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), leading the Mahayuti alliance, has decided to retain the chief minister’s position, with former CM Devendra Fadnavis emerging as the likely successor. BJP sources confirmed that Fadnavis will be the next CM, with a swearing-in ceremony expected later this week, potentially after the weekend.
Shinde, who resigned in front of his deputies Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, has reportedly received an offer to take on the deputy CM role as part of a power-sharing agreement. A BJP leader revealed that a meeting with newly elected MLAs will take place soon to finalize the CM’s appointment. Although Shinde had initially held the position for two-and-a-half years, his party’s push for him to continue as CM did not align with BJP’s leadership strategy.
The BJP’s appointment of Fadnavis underscores its dominance in Maharashtra, with a swearing-in ceremony expected to feature Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior BJP leaders. The party emphasized that the Maharashtra alliance differs from Bihar’s, as no such commitments regarding the chief minister’s role were made there.
The BJP decided to appoint Fadnavis as a strategic move, especially after the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) expressed its preference for Fadnavis over Shinde. As the political saga unfolds, the future of Maharashtra’s leadership looks set for a new chapter under Fadnavis.
