NEW DELHI: Has the stage been set for reversal of roles between BJP‘s Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde in Maharashtra? Well, caretaker chief minister Shinde on Wednesday dropped enough hints about a change of guard in Mahayuti even though he did not say that in as many words. Shinde on Wednesday addressed a press conference to announce that “he is not an obstacle in formation of new government” and he will “abide by the decision of Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah on the CM pick.”
“You (PM Modi) are the head of our family. The way people of BJP accept your decision, we will also accept your decision in the same way. I made a phone call to PM Modi and HM Amit Shah yesterday and told them that there will be no problem in forming the government because of me,” Shinde said.
Read also: Mahayuti leaders to meet BJP top brass, two deputy CMs formula likely to continue
Shinde’s remarks come amid strong posturing and a concerted campaign by his party Shiv Sena for continuity in Mahayuti’s leadership citing the Bihar model of Nitish Kumar. Shiv Sena leaders have demanded second term for Shinde crediting his governance for the coalition’s massive win in the assembly elections.
Devendra Fadnavis, who is likely to return as chief minister of the state – assuming the BJP top brass has no surprises up its sleeve, is already in the national capital ahead of a crucial meet of the Mahayuti allies with Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday. When asked about the CM pick, Fadnavis said: “The answer to this will be given soon. All senior members of the three parties of Mahayuti will together take decision on this. Shinde has cleared the apprehensions which some leaders had.”
While Shinde asserted that he had no ambition for the chief minister’s post, he did not miss to highlight his hard work and achievements of his short tenure.
Read also: All three parties deciding together, answer on CM post soon, says Devendra Fadnavis
“My tenure was just 2.5 years, but I think the work done by my government is of 10 years. All the decisions taken by Mahayuti government were historic,” Shinde said and added “I worked tirelessly day and night as a common party worker for the development of Maharashtra. I did not take even a day’s holiday.”
The caretaker chief minister also spoke at length about his humble origins and claimed that for him the full form of CM was common man and not chief minister. “I am a farmer’s son and I come from a poor family. I have always remembered my humble origins so that I could work for every common man of the state. People who come from rich families can never understand the pain of the common man,” Shinde said.
He then went on to talk about the Ladaki Bahin Yojna, which many experts feel was a gamechanger, and said for him the tag of “Ladka Bhai” is more important than any other designation. Shinde also invoked Balasaheb Thackeray and thanked PM Modi and Amit Shah for making Balasaheb’s dream of a Sainik CM in Maharashtra a reality.
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Shinde seems to have reconciled to the turn of events. The BJP has 132 MLAs in the 288-member Maharashtra assembly – this is just 12 short of the half way mark. What’s more, Ajit Pawar‘s NCP – the third ally of the Mahayuti, would perhaps be happier with BJP at the helm than Shinde Sena.
Little wonder, Sena functionary Ramdas Kadam made a candid admission about Ajit Pawar factor when he said that because of NCP, Sena’s bargaining power to claim the CM’s post had reduced in the Mahayuti.
In 2022, when Shinde did not expect the top post, the BJP surprised him. Now, when he feels that he has contributed to coalition’s victory and deserves a second term, the numbers are not in his favour.
Ajit Pawar has confirmed that the meeting of Mahayuti leaders tomorrow in the national capital is likely to endorse the continuation of the same model – chief minister with two deputies.
“All three of us (Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar) are coming to Delhi tomorrow. Further discussions will be held there. Discussions on the formation of the government with a CM and two deputy CMs will be held,” Pawar said.