More than a week has passed since the Maharashtra Assembly election results were announced, but the state continues to face political uncertainty. Despite securing a commanding majority, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti alliance, which includes the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has failed to come to a consensus on who will be the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
The alliance, collectively holding 230 seats — enough for a clear majority in the 288-member Assembly — is stuck in a political deadlock, with no clarity over who will take the top post. While the BJP emerged as the largest party, securing a greater number of seats than the Shiv Sena and NCP combined, internal divisions within the alliance are complicating matters.
Divided Choices within the Mahayuti
The issue stems from the fact that all three main constituents of the Mahayuti — the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP — are insistent on their own candidates for the Chief Minister’s position. Devendra Fadnavis, former Chief Minister and senior BJP leader, has been tipped as the frontrunner, but neither Eknath Shinde, leader of the Shiv Sena faction, nor NCP leader Ajit Pawar have publicly withdrawn their claims.
Despite their assertions of unity within the alliance, each party is holding firm to its own candidate. Devendra Fadnavis, who is seen as the most likely choice for the role, has not been able to overcome the resistance from Shinde and Pawar, both of whom have significant political backing and ambitions. The three leaders have repeatedly emphasized “unity” in their statements, but their actions suggest a more complicated power struggle behind the scenes.
Eknath Shinde’s Role: The Sticking Point
While Devendra Fadnavis is expected to take the CM chair in the coming days, the real hurdle appears to be Eknath Shinde’s position within the government. Although sources suggest that the BJP has offered Shinde the Deputy Chief Minister’s post, the Shiv Sena leader has remained non-committal, leading to further delays in finalizing the government formation.
Shinde’s absence from the political stage while he visited his hometown of Dare in Satara, and his subsequent meeting with NCP leader Jitendra Awhad, have only fueled speculation about his political intentions. Some analysts believe that Shinde is exploring options outside the alliance or is waiting for a more substantial role in the state government, possibly even Chief Ministership if the political dynamics shift.
Political Uncertainty and Public Perception
The continuing indecision over the Chief Minister’s post has raised questions about the strength and stability of the Mahayuti alliance. While the BJP leadership has expressed confidence that the government will be formed soon, the delay in officially announcing the CM is sending mixed signals to the public and political observers. The leadership vacuum is particularly concerning given that the swearing-in ceremony of the new Chief Minister had been expected to take place within days of the election results.
Sources close to the BJP suggest that the swearing-in ceremony is now all but finalized, with the event expected to take place shortly. However, the final decision on who will take the oath as Maharashtra’s next Chief Minister remains uncertain.
For now, political observers in Maharashtra are watching closely to see whether the Mahayuti can truly present a united front in government formation, or if internal rifts will delay the process further. With each party vying for a larger share of power, it remains to be seen how long the alliance will continue to struggle over the top post.
