The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has designated Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani as observers for a crucial meeting of newly elected MLAs in Maharashtra, where the selection of the next Chief Minister is expected to be finalized.
While no formal announcement has been made, Devendra Fadnavis, a senior BJP leader and two-time former Chief Minister, is viewed as the frontrunner for the position. The BJP, having secured a significant victory in last month’s Assembly elections with the support of allies Shiv Sena and the factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, has delayed naming the new Chief Minister amid ongoing negotiations regarding power-sharing.
A preliminary agreement was reached last week, designating the Chief Minister as a BJP member, while both allies are set to receive deputy positions, favoring the BJP. With 132 MLAs, the BJP emerged as the single largest party in the 288-seat Assembly, allowing it to form the government independently, unlike the 2022 political reshuffle in india.
The BJP’s strengthened position has led to claims for the Chief Minister’s office, causing discontent among outgoing Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his party. After a brief retreat, Shinde publicly accepted the new political landscape, indicating he would not obstruct the process.
The BJP announced that the new Chief Minister will be sworn in at 5 PM on December 5 at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, with Prime Minister Modi in attendance. The NCP is expected to support the BJP, with Ajit Pawar likely returning as Deputy Chief Minister. The identity of the second deputy remains uncertain amid ongoing political dynamics.