Maharashtra govt formation: Swearing in on Dec 5; decided on BJP CM, says Ajit Pawar

What has somewhat delayed government formation in the state despite a clear mandate to the Mahayuti is caretaker Chief Minister Shinde’s decision to go to his village Dare in Satara district the very day he returned from New Delhi after the meeting of all allies. Some in his party said this indicated Shinde’s “unhappiness” and that he was keen that the Home Ministry portfolio in the new government be allocated to Shiv Sena.

Back home in his village, Shinde is learnt to have taken ill. His family doctor RM Parte told the media in Satara that Shinde has throat infection and fever, that he was under treatment, and should get better in two-three days.

BJP tried to downplay any rift with its ally. Bawankule 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.

In Pune, Ajit Pawar said the BJP had 132 MLAs and support of five independent and other MLAs. “This means 137 MLAs, and that is not a small number. We have already told the BJP that they can decide the CM and that will be accepted by us. A decision has been made that there will be a CM from the BJP and Dy CMs from the remaining two parties,” he told reporters.

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.

Responding to a question, Ajit Pawar of NCP said he had no idea whether the home portfolio will be given to Shinde or not. “The head of the state government will decide,” he said, adding, Shinde was not upset and he went to his village to rest. Sena sources said that Shinde had informed the leaders of BJP and NCP about his visit in advance. “He said he would be back to continue the talks on Sunday,” a Sena source said.

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 the Chief Minister 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 faces 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.”

(WITH INPUTS FROM MANOJ MORE IN PUNE)