NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena MLA Gulabrao Patil claimed on Sunday that the Eknath Shinde-led party would have secured 90-100 seats in the Maharashtra Assembly elections if Ajit Pawar’s NCP had not been part of the Mahayuti alliance.
The Mahayuti includes the BJP, Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, and NCP led by Ajit Pawar. Ajit Pawar joined the Shinde government in July 2023, where he was appointed deputy chief minister along with BJP‘s Devendra Fadnavis.
Patil, speaking to a regional news channel, argued that despite the alliance’s strong showing, Shiv Sena contested only 85 seats. He suggested that the exclusion of Ajit Pawar’s NCP could have resulted in a higher seat count for Shiv Sena. “We contested only 85 seats. Without Ajitdada, we could have won 90-100 seats. Shinde never asked why Ajit Pawar-led NCP was inducted in his government,” Patil was quoted saying by PTI.
Speaking on government formation, Patil expressed confidence in Shinde’s leadership, saying the caretaker chief minister was not upset. “Our leader is large-hearted and not upset. He has achieved unprecedented success. He is a fighter who cannot be disheartened,” Patil said.
Patil, who secured a decisive victory from Jalgaon Rural with a margin exceeding 59,000 votes, added that the BJP would ultimately decide on the next chief minister’s name, a decision that would be supported by Shinde and the allies.
As speculation surrounding the next Maharashtra CM continues, Eknath Shinde, who had been unwell following a grueling election schedule, returned to Mumbai on Sunday from his native village, Dare Tamb, in Satara. Before leaving, Shinde reaffirmed that Mahayuti’s chief ministerial candidate would be announced on Monday. “I have already given my unconditional support to the decision of the Prime Minister, Home Minister, and BJP President, and I will support whatever they decide for Maharashtra,” Shinde said.
Shinde had met Union home minister Amit Shah in Delhi just before his departure. The meeting also saw the presence of other key Mahayuti allies, including BJP leaders Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, and BJP President JP Nadda.
The Mahayuti alliance triumphed in the November 23 elections, securing 230 of the 288 seats. The BJP led with 132 seats, followed by Shiv Sena with 57 and NCP with 41.