Amidst jostling for key portfolios, Maharashtra BJP unit says swearing in of Mahayuti govt on Dec 5

The delay in government formation in the state is attributed to caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s sudden decision to travel to his village in Satara, and sources in Shiv Sena demanding the Home Ministry portfolio for the party in the new government.

Bawankule, however, said everything will be finalised over the next 2-3 days and the CM along with his deputies would be sworn in together on December 5. Sources in the BJP said the central observers would travel to Mumbai over the next couple of days and oversee the appointment of the new leader during a legislative party meeting.

Bawankule held a meeting with the BJP district chief to plan the oath-taking ceremony on a grand scale in the presence of Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and CMs of other BJP-ruled states.

“There is neither any delay in government formation, nor is there any dispute among alliance partners. The NDA has the credibility of taking along its alliance partners and ensuring proper coordination,” Bawankule told The Sunday Express.

“All decisions related to Mahayuti and government formation will be taken by BJP central leaders and the parliamentary board in consultation with state leaders, including the allies Shiv Sena and NCP,” he said.

BJP legislative party meeting likely on December 2-3

BJP sources said the legislative party meeting is likely to be held on December 2-3. Some Shiv Sena leaders The Sunday Express spoke with said Shinde is likely to participate in the Mahayuti meeting only after the BJP legislature party chooses its leader.

On Sena’s demands, some leaders in the party cited the portfolio allocation under Shinde wherein he agreed to let Fadnavis keep the home portfolio despite he being the Deputy CM.

“When Shinde ji was CM, the home ministry was given to the Deputy CM. So, portfolio distribution should be done similarly; that would be fair. A leader like Shinde can maintain law and order very well even when sensitive situations of communal riots arise in the state,” said Sena MLA Sanjay Shirsat. Two other Sena MLAs Shambhuraj Desai and Bharat Gogawale seconded this argument.

While Shinde’s trip to the village the very day he returned from Delhi after a meeting of Mahayuti leaders with BJP central leadership was seen as a sign of his unhappiness, sources in the party said this was prescheduled.

“He (Shinde) had informed the leaders of BJP and allies about his visit in advance. He said he would be back to continue the talks on Sunday,” a source said.

Shinde group demands portfolios held in outgoing government

Besides the home portfolio, the Shinde group has also demanded portfolios the party held in the outgoing government including Urban Development, Industry, Education, Health and Excise. “We do not want to make any compromises on it,” said the source.

Party leaders denied reports Shinde had expressed his unwillingness to accept Fadnavis as CM and cited Shinde’s statement during his press conference in Thane on Wednesday when he clearly said that whatever is the decision of PM and HM and whoever their CM candidate, Sena will fully support him.

The BJP leadership has also offered Shinde to come to the Centre and be part of the Narendra Modi government in case he is not keen on the Deputy CM’s post. “It’s a suggestion under consideration. But the question is how can you not accept a popular leader’s demand,” said a Sena leader.

A senior BJP leader categorically ruled out any other candidate other than Fadnavis for the CM’s post.

“Such experiments to handpick fresh face is possible where BJP has absolute majority on its own, for instance, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Maharashtra is a complex state with a three-party coalition and strong regional leaders. In such a scenario, BJP has to appoint a strong leader with administrative capabilities and a good understanding of the state.”