Who Will be the Next Chief Minister of Maharashtra? Devendra Fadnavis Drops a Hint About the New CM

BJP’s Victory and Leadership Dilemma

The BJP, which has emerged as the leading victorious party in the state, faces the task of choosing a Chief Minister from the multiple contenders. While the alliance’s thumping win confirms its dominance, the selection process is a balancing act among the coalition partners—the BJP, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP.

What Devendra Fadnavis Said

Speaking to reporters, Devendra Fadnavis, the BJP’s leader and two-time Chief Minister of Maharashtra, shed light on the decision-making process. He emphasized that the selection of the Chief Minister would be a collective decision involving all alliance leaders, as directed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

“There will be no dispute about who will be the Chief Minister… it was decided from day one that, after the election, the leaders of the three parties will sit together and decide this,” Fadnavis stated. He assured that the choice would be unanimous and agreeable to all parties involved.

#WATCH | Mumbai | When asked who will be the next CM of Maharashtra, Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis says, "There will be no dispute on the CM's face. It was decided from day one that after the elections, the leaders of the three parties will sit together and decide on… pic.twitter.com/wfI6nqhN8F
— ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2024

The Contenders: A Straight Fight?

On paper, the contest appears to be a close run between Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde, the outgoing Chief Minister. However, the BJP has a history of springing surprises, as seen in Madhya Pradesh last year when a relatively unknown candidate, Mohan Yadav, was chosen over the expected Shivraj Singh Chouhan. This unpredictability leaves possibilities for other potential candidates, including Ajit Pawar, who could retain his Deputy Chief Minister role while supporting a BJP candidate.

Eknath Shinde’s Position

Eknath Shinde, who played a key role in the 2022 Shiv Sena rebellion and steered over 40 MLAs to the BJP’s support, retains a lot of influence. However, the BJP’s strong position, further enhanced by Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction, may stymie Shinde’s leverage compared to 2019. Then, Uddhav Thackeray’s break from the BJP over a rotational Chief Minister formula led to the fall of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

Shinde has reiterated his commitment to unity within the alliance, stating, “Let the final results come… the same way as we fought elections together, all three parties will sit together and take a decision.”

A Strategic Move?

The BJP could potentially break tradition and opt for a surprise candidate, keeping in mind Maharashtra’s complex caste dynamics. Such a move could bolster the party’s appeal across diverse voter groups and reinforce its dominance.

What’s Next for Maharashtra?

As the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance moves to consolidate its position, the decision on Maharashtra’s Chief Minister will be a litmus test for the coalition’s unity and strategic foresight. Will it be Fadnavis, a seasoned leader with a proven track record, Shinde, the face of the Sena rebellion, or an entirely new candidate? The coming days promise to reveal the BJP’s game plan for the state’s leadership.

Stay tuned for updates as Maharashtra prepares for its next political chapter.