Maharashtra’s New Government to Take Oath on December 5

Mumbai, November 30: The new Maha Yuti government in Maharashtra is set to take the oath of office on December 5 at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to the state BJP unit. While the chief minister’s name is yet to be officially announced, sources suggest that BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis is the frontrunner for the position. Fadnavis, a two-time chief minister, served as the deputy chief minister in the previous Eknath Shinde-led government.

Eknath Shinde Faces Challenges

Caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who returned from Delhi after discussions with BJP leaders, is reportedly unwell. Shinde’s close aide stated that he has a fever and cold, leading him to take a break in his hometown. Shinde had earlier expressed his willingness to accept any decision made by the BJP’s top leadership regarding the chief ministerial post.

Shiv Sena leaders allied with Shinde have expressed dissatisfaction, with some advocating for the home ministry portfolio in the new government. Senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat also claimed that attempts were made to sideline Shinde in the power-sharing discussions.

BJP Legislative Meeting Scheduled

The BJP is set to hold its legislative party meeting on December 2 to finalize its leader, with strong indications that Fadnavis will be chosen as the chief minister. Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction has openly supported Fadnavis for the top post.

The BJP-Shinde-led Shiv Sena-Ajit Pawar NCP alliance, collectively known as Maha Yuti, retained power following a sweeping victory in the assembly elections held on November 20. The alliance secured a commanding majority in the 288-member assembly, with BJP winning 132 seats, Shiv Sena 57, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP 41. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a crushing defeat, with Congress securing 16 seats, Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction 10, and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena 20.

Despite the election victory, government formation was delayed due to disagreements over the chief ministerial post among alliance partners. Shinde, Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar recently met with BJP President J.P. Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss power-sharing arrangements.

The MVA, led by Sharad Pawar, has raised concerns over the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the elections. Sharad Pawar joined a protest in Pune, alleging misuse of money and EVMs to manipulate the results.

As the Maha Yuti gears up for the oath-taking ceremony, the spotlight remains on the finalization of the cabinet portfolios and the new government’s policy roadmap.