MUMBAI: The suspense over new Maharashtra chief minister is expected to end on Wednesday when BJP’s state legislature party elects its new leader at a meeting in Vidhan Bhavan. All newly elected MLAs have been told to attend the meeting. Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani, who were appointed as central observers, will also be present at the meeting.
Devendra Fadnavis has emerged as the frontrunner to lead the state govt, while Sena has demanded that Eknath Shinde be allowed to continue as CM.
In the state assembly elections held on Nov 20, with results declared three days later, Mahayuti alliance secured 230 out of 288 seats. BJP led with 132 seats, followed by Shiv Sena with 57 and NCP with 41. Sources said the central leadership will decide on who will be the party chief in the legislature. “All MLAs will unanimously approve the choice,” said a source.
“We will distribute pedas to celebrate the selection, and since Mumbai’s air is not all that bad and there is no ban on crackers, we may even burst crackers,” said BJP member and MLA from Ballarpur in Chandrapur district, Sudhir Mungantiwar.
On Monday, city BJP president Ashish Shelar called a meeting of all MLAs and officebearers to ensure a record turnout for the swearing-in ceremony that BJP has announced will be held at Azad Maidan on Dec 5 in the presence of PM Narendra Modi and other dignitaries.
“We have been directed to bring in people from our respective constituencies and be there by 3.30pm. The swearing-in ceremony is at 5pm,” said an MLA requesting anonymity.
Sources said Azad Maidan has a capacity for 40,000 people; BJP is looking to have it fully packed.
State BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule carried out an inspection of the ground and reviewed the preparations that were underway. Mungantiwar said saints and religious leaders of all communities have been invited and a separate stage is being set up for them. “We believe in working with all communities and not dividing them, unlike Congress,” he said.
Asked if Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray will be invited for the ceremony, Mungantiwar said Thackeray is a member of the Upper House and all members will be invited. “You ought to ask him if he will attend,” he said, adding that MNS chief Raj Thackeray, too, will be invited.
Sources said that a special session of the state legislature will be held in Mumbai from Dec 7-9 for the swearing in of all newly-elected members. The winter session of the legislature will be held in Nagpur from Dec 16-23.
On Monday, NCP’s Ajit Pawar travelled to Delhi, while Shinde and Fadnavis stayed in Mumbai, engaging with their respective party workers.