Fadnavis or Shinde - who will be new CM? The big question staring Maharashtra as NDA decimates MVA

Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath SHinde are the frontrunners for the post of Maharashtra CM. (File Photo: PTI)

With the Mahayuti poised for a landslide victory in Maharashtra, the focus gradually shifts to the Mahayuti’s choice on the question of chief ministership. The Bharatiya Janata Party, the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party entered the election without declaring a CM face and under the leadership of incumbent CM Eknath Shinde.

However, the BJP’s near-sweep in Maharashtra – leads show it is ahead in 126 of the 148 seats it contested – changes the equations dramatically. As per the official trends available with the Election Commission of India, the Shiv Sena and the NCP are ahead in 54 and 35 seats, respectively. The Shiv Sena had fielded candidates in 81 seats while the NCP fielded candidates in 59 seats.

The higher seats tally and a better strike rate as compared to its alliance partners strengthens its claim to the post of chief minister. And If BJP were to press for its claim to the post, Devendra Fadnavis is certain to emerge as the front-runner.

On the other hand, the past four years or so have shown Shinde come into his own after being picked as the surprise choice as CM with Fadnavis as CM. From being dubbed as a "puppet CM" to firmly taking command and emerging as a new political force to reckon with in the state, the BJP would be naive to ignore Shinde's importance in the scheme of things in Maharashtra.

The run-up to the election results saw workers from all three alliance partners stake claim to the CM’s post for their respective leaders. Posters sprang up across the state soon after the exit polls predicted an advantage for the NDA in Maharashtra. Posters depicting Shinde, Fadnavis as well as NCP’s Ajit Pawar were spotted in several parts of the state.

Also Read: Maharashtra Election Results Live Updates

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has dialled Fadnavis to congratulate him for the party’s stellar performance in the state. Whether chief ministership was discussed could not be immediately verified.

There are a couple of other reasons that the BJP is likely to press for the CM’s position. The party has managed to successfully mobilise OBCs and Dalits to vote for the alliance. The party’s tally as per trends shows that it has also managed to neutralise the Maratha agitation and ensured that a counter-consolidation works to the advantage of the alliance.

While the leaders of Shiv Sena have begun to raise the chorus for Shinde’s continuation as CM, the BJP is yet to arrive at a decision on the matter. Central observers from the party are likely to visit Maharashtra soon and hold discussions on the issue.

The NDA will have to move fast and stake claim to form the government with the term of the current Assembly set to expire on November 26. The swearing-in ceremony of the new government is also scheduled to be held in Mumbai on the same day. The event is scheduled to be held at the Shivaji Park in Mumbai, sources said.