New govt formation delayed in Maharashtra as Shiv Sena demands CM post, BJP bats for Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai: The formation of a new government in Maharashtra, which appeared likely right now after the BJP-led coalition won a thumping majority right for the duration of the assembly elections, is delayed thanks to Shiv Sena’s insistence that Eknath Shinde continue because the chief minister, sources said on Monday. After the November 20 elections results were out on Saturday, there was once talk that the fresh CM may perhaps be sworn in as early as Monday but that has now not took place, apparently thanks to the ruling Mahayuti now not reaching a consensus on who may perchance be the subsequent CM, the sources said.

Shiv Sena spokesperson Naresh Mhaske cited the Bihar model to say that Shinde should continue because the chief minister. Alternatively, BJP MLC Pravin Darekar batted for Devendra Fadnavis for the CM’s post, saying the deputy chief minister is the foremost capable candidate to lead the state. The Mahayuti coalition, comprising the Shiv Sena, BJP and Ajit Pawar-led NCP, retained power by winning 230 of the 288 assembly seats right for the duration of the just-concluded state polls, leaving the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi with just forty six seats.

Amid the talk of Fadnavis becoming the CM for the 0.33 time, came statements of tons of Sena leaders that Shinde should continue because the landslide win was once lower than his leadership because the CM. The BJP, led by Fadnavis, won essentially the most most best ever 132 seats for the birthday celebration, while the Shiv Sena led by Shinde bagged fifty seven seats.

“We feel Shinde has to be the chief minister, such as in Bihar where BJP didn't have a take a glance at the numbers but still made JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar the CM. Senior leaders of the Mahayuti (in Maharashtra) will eventually take a decision,” Mhaske told reporters on Monday. Mhaske also compared the situation to the leadership dynamics in Haryana, where the BJP contested the assembly elections recently lower than Nayab Singh Saini’s leadership. “The election in Maharashtra was once contested lower than the leadership of Shinde, Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar. This shows that the alliance’s leadership has to be respected,” he said.

On Sunday, state minister Deepak Kesarkar met Shinde at the latter’s residence in Mumbai and batted for his continuation as CM. “Shiv Sena MLAs feel Shinde should continue right for the duration of the post because lower than his leadership the Mahayuti worked thoroughly and performed spectacularly in polls,” Kesarkar told reporters.

BJP leader and former Union minister Raosaheb Danve said the birthday celebration would soon hold a gathering of its legislators. “The NCP chose Ajit Pawar (as its leader right for the duration of the assembly), and so has Shiv Sena (chosen Shinde as its leader). The BJP will soon call a gathering of its legislators. It is able to well be far obvious that the BJP wants the CM’s post,” Danve said. The final word decision would be communicated to the central leadership after the birthday celebration’s internal discussions, he added.

Fadnavis on Saturday denied any dispute over the CM’s post, saying leaders of the Mahayuti will come to a decision on the issue together. Meanwhile, a legislature official brushed aside reports that the President’s Rule may come into force if a new government is now not in place by November 26, when the tenure of the14th state assembly ends. Truly, with the officials of the Election Commission of India submitting copies of the gazette with names of the newly-elected members of the state legislative assembly to Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan on Sunday, the fifteenth assembly is already in place, an official said. As per Section seventy three of the Representation of the People Act about the publication of results of the state assembly, “after submission of the notification of the names of the members elected, this is in a position to well be deemed that the House has been duly constituted,” the official said.