In Maharashtra, the raining Mahayuti alliance not only held onto to power, but also pummeled the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The Mahayuti won 230 seats with the BJP alone of which securing 132 seats.
They ruled on 57 and 41 seats respectively, with the Shiv Sena and NCP. But the Shiv Sena (UBT) along with the MVA won 46 seats, Congress 16, NCP (SP) 10 seats only.
With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) pushing for its own Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and rejecting Shiv Sena’s demand for a model like Bihar, the suspense continues over who will be next for Maharashtra. Unlike in Bihar where BJP had pre election commitment to Nitish Kumar, BJP’s Prem Shukla said BJP had made no such promise to Nitish Shinde as CM in Maharashtra.
After the Bihar model was suggested by Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske for Shinde’s continuation, he said the call for the decision on his further stay will depend on senior leadership of Mahayuti. But BJP leaders are unhappy with Shiv Sena’s demand that Shinde continue.
Shinde and Ajit Pawar have reportedly been informed by the BJP that it is backing Fadnavis, and a meeting of the legislative bodies is expected to decide his candidature. Both the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Ajit Pawar led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have also supported him citing his popularity and organizational strength.
He was Maharashtra’s CM from 2014 to 2019 with Fadnavis as the lone key factor in BJP’s success. They believe voters went for the party because of his leadership. Sunil Tatkare, on his part, said Ajit Pawar had dreams of heading the party, but ‘practical limitations’ had constrained the NCP; it was for Mahayuti to make the final call.
The Mahayuti alliance manages to keep power in Maharashtra with 230 seats in the elections. The BJP won 132, Shiv Sena 57, NCP 41 and others 6. On the other hand, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) could claim only 46 seats where it was led by Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP).
Under Fadnavis, the Mahayuti wants to unite under the CM post and their first leader is expected to be decided soon.
