BJP puts foot down in Maharashtra: Devendra Fadnavis shoo-in for CM, party to also retain home portfolio

While acknowledging that the state and Central cabinet compositions cannot be entirely compared, insiders within the BJP indicated that aside from the chief minister post, the home portfolio will remain with the BJP.

The ruling Mahayti alliance recorded a resounding success in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, winning 235 of the 288 seats. The BJP won 132 seats, followed by Shiv Sena (57) and Nationalist Congress Party (41).

According to BJP sources, the Shinde Sena and the NCP led by Ajit Pawar will each receive the position of deputy chief minister. Shinde has reportedly been given the option to either accept the deputy CM role or join the Union cabinet.

On Tuesday, Shinde resigned as chief minister of the previous government to mark the end of the 14th Assembly and was asked by Governor C P Radhakrishnan to take charge as the head of a caretaker administration till the new regime is sworn in.

Acknowledging the huge mandate in favour of the BJP, a senior NCP leader said, “Ajit Pawar knows the mandate is for a BJP CM. The NCP is, however, hoping for the finance portfolio for Ajit Pawar or something equivalent.”

With the home portfolio ruled out, the three allies are still discussing revenue, finance, urban development, public works, rural development, and agriculture.

A BJP source said, “While the BJP will retain more cabinet berths, it will definitely accommodate its alliance partners to a certain extent.”

In the first phase of cabinet formation, the chief minister, two deputies and 17 to 20 ministers will be sworn in. The full-fledged cabinet will follow within a month.

BJP firm on Devendra Fadnavis

The Shinde Sena remains dissatisfied with the BJP’s dominant role in the alliance despite the passage of four days since the Assembly election results. The Sena camp has asked for a model similar to Bihar, where NDA partner Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar is the chief minister. It has also sought a rotational chief ministership.

However, following a message from the BJP’s central leadership, the party understands that there is no room for negotiation on the chief minister position. Shinde has been informed that the chief minister position is non-negotiable. Nevertheless, the BJP has assured its alliance partners that they will receive a respectable share in the cabinet, along with suitable portfolios.

In 2014, when the BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 122 seats, it formed an alliance with the then-undivided Shiv Sena, led by Uddhav Thackeray. Devendra Fadnavis became the chief minister and home minister. At that time, the BJP conceded the important ministries of urban development and public works department to Shiv Sena.

When the Mahayuti government led by Shinde came to power in 2022, the Shinde Sena retained the urban development and public works departments. Devendra Fadnavis assumed the roles of deputy chief minister and home minister.