The results of Maharashtra Assembly elections will come on Saturday. Before that, the real fight has broken out for the post of Chief Minister. The Congress-led Mahavikas Aghadi and the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance did not contest the elections this time by declaring themselves the CM face, due to which the tussle between the two alliances intensified. If Congress is trying to make its CM, then Uddhav Thackeray is not accepting this. Similarly, there is a dilemma regarding the post of CM in BJP also. There are six contenders for the post of CM in Maharashtra from the ruling party and the opposition, but who will play the role of Chief Minister… this is the biggest question?
Three governments were formed and fell in five years to occupy the CM’s chair. Not only did the friendship between Shiv Sena and BJP that had been going on for two and a half decades break, but Shiv Sena and NCP got divided into two factions. This time too, political exercise has started before the results regarding the post of Chief Minister. The contenders for the post of CM in Mahayuti include Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis and NCP chief Ajit Pawar. All three leaders are seen standing face to face regarding the CM’s chair. Similarly, a game of check-mate has started between Uddhav Thackeray in Mahavikas Aghadi, Congress’s Nana Patole and Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule.
Will the crown of power adorn Fadnavis’s head?
Even after becoming the largest party in Maharashtra in 2019, BJP could not make its own Chief Minister for five years. This time too, BJP has fielded the maximum number of candidates in both the alliances. It is believed that BJP will be the only party with the highest number of MLAs, but will it be able to make the CM its own? Devendra Fadnavis is being considered as the CM contender from BJP’s side. BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said that BJP workers wish that Fadnavis should become the CM.
He said that whether Mahayuti gets majority or not, now we will keep independents with us to form the government. It is clear that BJP is fully prepared to form the government and that is why it is already busy in recruiting independents, but there is definitely an obstacle. Fadnavis comes from Brahmin community, which the Maratha community will not agree to.
Eknath Shinde’s claim also
Currently, the CM of Mahayuti in Maharashtra is Eknath Shinde and his party Shiv Sena also wants that since the assembly elections have been fought on Shinde’s face, he also has the right to become the CM. Amit Shah had said during the elections itself that Shinde is definitely the CM but the decision of the new Chief Minister will be decided after the election results. There is hope of Eknath Shinde becoming CM again in Maharashtra only if his party wins more than 50 MLAs. Apart from this, BJP should have less than 100 MLAs and Ajit Pawar should also have less than 40 MLAs. In this way, BJP will have to depend on Shinde to form the government in Maharashtra, only then he can get the CM’s chair again.
Will Uddhav Thackeray become CM again?
If Mahavikas Aghadi returns to power, Uddhav can once again become a contender for the post of CM. It was for the post of Chief Minister that Uddhav Thackeray broke the alliance with BJP in the year 2019 and joined hands with his ideological rivals Congress and NCP. Uddhav cannot afford to be out of power under any circumstances to save the existence of his party. Many of their MLAs may change sides if they are out of power. This is also why power is important for Uddhav. But for that, it is necessary for Congress and Sharad Pawar to agree. In 2019, Congress had accepted his condition because he had broken the alliance with BJP. After Shiv Sena divided into two groups, it is no longer easy for Uddhav to join hands with BJP, but if Shiv Sena (UBT) succeeds in winning more than 50 seats, then the key to power will be in its hands.
Nana Patole’s fortune will be high
Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole has presented his claim for the post of CM. He said that Mahavikas Aghadi government will be formed in the state and the CM will be from Congress. On this point of Patole, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said that we do not accept this. He said, if this is so then Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge should declare Nana Patole as the Chief Minister. For Nana Patole to become CM, he will have to gain acceptance not only from allies but also from Congress leaders. Maratha leaders of Congress will not accept Nana Patole for CM under any circumstances. If Congress emerges as the largest party in the alliance and moves forward for the post of Chief Minister, then Uddhav can also consider some other option.
Power will be in the hands of Pawar family
Sharad Pawar is called Chanakya of Maharashtra politics. But, his party is divided into two groups. Sharad’s nephew Ajit Pawar is part of the BJP-led Mahayuti, while Sharad is with the Congress-led Mahavikas Aghadi. For Ajit Pawar, this assembly election is an election to save his existence but his ambition to become the Chief Minister is well known. Ajit’s party NCP is contesting only on 59 seats, out of which it is in direct competition with the candidates of Sharad Pawar’s NCP on 37 seats.
Ajit Pawar can claim the post of CM only if he is successful in winning more than 80 percent of his quota seats. In such a situation, if we do not perform better then we will have to depend on BJP. Apart from this, if Ajit Pawar changes his political stance after the results and plays a role in forming the government of Mahavikas Aghadi, then his fortunes may rise. But for this, Sharad Pawar’s consent is necessary. The way Sharad Pawar has managed to win most of the seats in his quota during the Lok Sabha elections, if he continues to perform in the same manner in the Assembly elections, then he can take a chance on making his daughter Supriya Sule the CM. For this, Sharad Pawar will also have to involve his nephew Ajit Pawar. Only after this the wish of the mind will be fulfilled.
