India
Eleven-day political drama ‘Maha’ ends: Fadnavis takes oath as Maharashtra CM; but still no clarity about Eknath Shinde’s role | India News – Times of India
It took Shinde 11 days to finally agree to a leadership change after BJP rejected his demand for a second term as Mahayuti chief minister.
Here’s how the drama unfolded after the Maharashtra results were announced on November 23.
Also read: ‘During the Shah meeting, Shinde asked to become CM for at least the first six months’
Mahayuti gets Maha mandate
The people of Maharashtra gave an overwhelming majority to the ruling Mahayuti, with the ruling coalition winning 230 seats in the 288-member assembly. The BJP achieved remarkable success, winning 132 seats on its own, just 13 short of the simple majority. Its allies Shiv Sena and NCP also performed exceptionally well, winning 57 and 41 seats respectively.
Shinde claims credit for the Maha mandate
Immediately after the verdict, Prime Minister Eknath Shinde attributed the huge electoral success to his government’s performance in the past two and a half years. Shinde claimed that the welfare programs announced by his government, including the Ladki Bahin scheme, were the game changers in the elections. Shiv Sena then started its push for a second term for Shinde, citing his popularity and governance model.
Also read: How BJP navigated power-sharing talks to get Eknath Shinde on board
Shiv Sena cites Bihar model to support Shinde
Shiv Sena leaders started an orchestrated campaign for Shinde as chief minister. The party alleged that the BJP had promised to give the top position to Shinde if the Mahayuti won the elections. They put up posters demanding Shinde as leader of Mahayuti and also adapted Prime Minister Modi’s slogan ‘Ek hain to safe hain’ to claim ‘Ek(nath) hain to safe hain’. Some Sena leaders pitched for Shinde, citing the Bihar model in which BJP’s junior partner Nitish Kumar is the state’s chief minister.
Shinde gives in after four days
After four days of silence, Shinde finally addressed a press conference to announce that he will not be an obstacle in the formation of a new government and will accept Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah’s decision on the choice of Mahayuti as Prime Minister. However, he also used the press to list his government’s achievements, announcing that the work his government accomplished in two and a half years was more than what other governments would do in ten years. He also called his tenure historic. Shinde also played the victim card and claimed that CM for him meant the common man and not the chief minister. The Shiv Sena chief cited his humble origins to assert how as a chief minister he understood the pain of the common man.
Mahayuti leaders meet Amit Shah
A day after Shinde’s ascension to the CM post, Mahayuti leaders finally met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief JP Nadda in the national capital on November 28 to finalize modalities for forming the new government to discuss. However, the meeting could not finalize the power-sharing deal and Shinde, Fadavis and Ajit Pawar decided to meet again on November 29 in Mumbai.
Shinde leaves for his native village
However, this planned meeting of the three Mahayuti leaders in Mumbai could not take place as Shinde suddenly left Mumbai for his native village Satara. Adding to the tension, Shiv Sena leaders gave several reasons for Shinde’s sudden absence from Mumbai. While one leader claimed that he was not feeling well and had therefore gone to the village to rest, another Sena leader claimed that Shinde was planning a big decision and had therefore gone to his native village.
Also read: ‘Sulking’ Eknath Shinde delays talks on government formation
BJP unilaterally announces date of oath ceremony
With Shinde still grumbling, the BJP decided to take control and unilaterally announced December 5 as the date for the swearing-in of the Mahayuti 2.0 government. The Maharashtra BJP chief announced the date and sent a clear message to Shinde.
Shinde announces the second meeting date and returns to Mumbai
A day after BJP’s surprise move, Shinde announced that a meeting of Mahayuti leaders will be held in Mumbai on December 1. Shinde also returned from Satara to Mumbai to declare a ceasefire.
The Mahayuti meeting is canceled again as Shinde is now going to Thane’s house
However, the proposed meeting of the Mahayuti leaders had to be canceled again due to the unavailability of caretaker Chief Minister Shinde, who decided to go to his Thane residence for rest on doctor’s advice.
BJP appoints central observers and schedules legislative party meetings
However, the BJP continued with preparations for the swearing-in ceremony. It appointed Nirmala Sitharaman and Vijay Rupani as the party’s central observers for the party meeting of the BJP legislature on December 4.
Shinde finally returns to Mumbai, meets Fadnavis
Shinde finally returned to Mumbai on December 3 after visiting a hospital in Thane for medical tests. He held a meeting with concerned officials to take stock of preparations for the event to be held at Chaityabhoomi on December 6 on the death anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar. After this meeting, Fadnavis went to the CM house to meet Shinde.
Fadnavis appointed CM-elect, Mahayuti leaders claim to form government
At the legislature party meeting held at Vidhan Bhawan earlier in the day, former Gujarat CM and BJP’s central observer Vijay Rupani announced that Fadnavis has been unanimously elected as party leader of the BJP.
Later, Fadnavis along with Shinde and Ajit Pawar met state governor CP Radhakrishnan to formally stake claim to form the government, presenting letters of support from coalition partners including the Shiv Sena and the NCP.
However, there is still no clarity on whether Shinde will join the government.
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(With input from agencies)
