Coalition Dharma Or Party Ambition? BJP Torn Between Fadnavis, Shinde For CM’s Chair

Last Updated:November 25, 2024, 09:28 IST

While BJP cadre believe the party notching up 132 seats on its own in the Maharashtra election is reason enough to not play second fiddle anymore, Shinde supporters cite upcoming BMC polls and the Bihar example to bat for him

Sources indicate that the BJP’s top leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, are deliberating over the chief minister's pick. (PTI)

BJP leaders are insistent upon Devendra Fadnavis as the chief minister of Maharashtra, citing the near-majority figure of 132 seats notched up by the party on its own, and urge amongst the BJP cadre to not play second fiddle anymore in the important state.

A reliable source in the party said the government in 2022 under Eknath Shinde’s leadership was formed under ‘peculiar circumstances’ as Shinde had come with 40-odd MLAs and had to be rewarded with the CM’s post, while Fadnavis made the ‘sacrifice’ for the sake of party discipline and larger party interest.

However, this meant that BJP was devoid of the CM’s post for the full last five years, while the party’s relations with Uddhav Thackeray had broken in 2019 over the chief minister’s chair. Fadnavis is also said to have the backing of the RSS, which played a crucial role in the elections this time. The NCP-led by Ajit Pawar is also said to be in favour of Fadnavis as chief minister.

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“If we don’t get a BJP CM even after winning 132 seats, just 12 short of a majority on our own, when will we? Some BJP leaders who fought on tickets of our allies have also won, and independents who won are also ready to support the BJP. The party has a huge call to take," a reliable source in the BJP said.

It is expected that Fadnavis, Shinde and Pawar will travel to Delhi on Monday or Tuesday to meet the BJP high command and a decision will be taken.

In the Eknath Shinde camp though, there is clarity that the election was fought under Shinde’s leadership and there was never any agreement that the number of seats will determine who will be the next chief minister. Shinde, in fact, has returned with 57 seats, more than his last tally. There are also crucial polls of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) coming up in which Shinde will play a big role. The Shinde camp is citing the same for his continuation as the chief minister.

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Both Shinde and Fadnavis claim credit over being the architect of the ‘Ladki Bahin Yojana’ which is said to have turned the election in the Mahayuti’s favour. While Shinde did not miss out saying during the elections that it was the ‘Mukhymantri Ladki Bahin Yojana’, BJP’s posters and advertisements credited Fadnavis to be the architect of the scheme.

In the end, it will be a tough call for the BJP to take in Maharashtra — either exhibit its own ambitions and electoral performance to put Fadnavis back in the CM’s chair which he occupied between 2014-2019, or compromise again in the name of ‘coalition dharma’ to ensure there are no hiccups in the Mahayuti unity in a state known for surprise switching of camps by various political leaders.

News elections Coalition Dharma Or Party Ambition? BJP Torn Between Fadnavis, Shinde For CM’s Chair