Mahayuti leaders’ meeting canceled again: ‘Sulking’ Eknath Shinde delays government formation talks

NEW DELHI: Eknath Shinde “sulks” by delaying the formation of the BJP Mahayuti Government in Maharashtra? Nine days after Mahayuti won a “Maha” mandate, the “Maha” suspense is still not over over the contours of the next government. For the second time in the last four days, a meeting of Mahayuti leaders had to be canceled on Monday due to the unavailability of caretaker Chief Minister Shinde, who was resting at his Thane residence as per doctor’s advice.
It was Shinde who had told reporters on Sunday that he and the two deputy CMs (BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis and NCP chief Ajit Pawar) would take forward discussions on Monday on the chief minister’s post, distribution of portfolios and places between the parties in the new Cabinet.
Shinde, Fadnvais and Ajit Pawar had held their first meeting in the national capital last week in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP leader JP Nadda, but failed to reach reach consensus on a power-sharing agreement. The much-awaited second meeting of Mahayuti leaders last Friday was suspended after Shinde suddenly flew to his native Dare village in Satara district, citing health problems.
Immediately after the Maha verdict, several Shiv Sena leaders orchestrated a campaign to retain Shinde as the next chief minister, despite the fact that the BJP alone had won 132 seats in the 288-member assembly. They even cited Bihar role model Nitish Kumar to make their case for Shinde. Some Sena leaders even claimed that the BJP had promised to give Shinde the top post regardless of the numbers.
It was four days after the Maha verdict that Eknath Shinde finally announced that he would not pose an obstacle in the formation of the government and hinted that he was also ready to vacate the top post. However, Shiv Sena’s silence on its future role in the Mahayuti government since then has added to the suspense and given rise to speculation. Reports indicate that Shiv Sena is insisting on the home portfolio which belonged to Fadnavis when he was deputy chief minister under Shinde.
Meanwhile, the BJP, which is expected to have its own chief minister after a gap of five years, appears to be moving forward with government formation. After announcing the date of the swearing-in ceremony two days ago, the BJP today said the next Mahayuti chief will be finalized on December 4, when the newly elected party MLAs will meet in the presence of central observers Nirmala Sitharaman and Vijay Rupani. Even though some BJP leaders have hinted at the return of Devendra Fadnavis as chief minister, the official announcement will be made till the end and will be made on the eve of the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for December 5.
Fadnavis enjoys the support of Ajit Pawar, the Mahayuti’s third ally, who has stripped the Shiv Sena of all negotiating power. In the November 20 elections, the Mahayuti won 230 of the 288 Assembly seats, decimating the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi. The BJP was leading in 132 seats, while the Shiv Sena got 57 and the NCP 41.
Meanwhile, Shrikant Shinde, Shiv Sena chief and son of Eknath Shinde, on Monday responded to speculation that he would become deputy chief minister of Maharashtra and said he “has no desire to access a position of power.
Shrikant, in his post on X, refuted allegations that he was in the running for a ministerial post in the state. “The inauguration ceremony of the grand coalition government has been a little delayed and there is currently a lot of talk and rumours. The Acting Chief Minister, Hon’ble Shri Eknath Shinde, visited the village for two days and took rest due to health problems So the rumors have been flourishing for the last two days Actually there is no truth in it and all the news regarding my post as Deputy Chief Minister. baseless and baseless”, Shrikant said.