Kumar Bahukhandi
If ministerial posts are distributed in the Mahayuti as per the new formula, then the only discussion left in the parties will be about the departments, which will continue even after the swearing-in.
The new government is to be sworn in on Thursday December 5 , 2024 in Maharashtra. The Mahayuti alliance has not yet disclosed who will get the post of Chief Minister from its side. However, it is almost certain that BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis will once again get the post of Chief Minister of the state. At the same time, there are talks of former CM Eknath Shinde becoming the Deputy CM. Apart from this, there are also talks of Ajit Pawar, who was the Deputy Chief Minister in the previous government, holding the same post again. However, it is not clear yet how these three leaders will divide the ministerial posts in the cabinet.
Meanwhile, there is a discussion among many factions that BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP will adopt a 6-1 formula for cabinet formation. That is, for every six MLAs, the party will get one ministerial post. If this formula is to be believed, then the maximum number of ministers in Maharashtra will be from BJP, which has won 132 seats in the elections. After this, Shiv Sena and NCP are also likely to get a profitable deal in ministerial posts.
Which party is likely to get how many ministerial posts?
If we talk about the numbers based on this formula, then BJP can get 20 to 22 posts in the cabinet. On the other hand, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena will get 12 ministerial posts and Ajit Pawar-led NCP will get 9-10 ministerial posts. If the ministerial posts are distributed in this way in the Mahayuti, then only the discussion about the departments will remain in the parties, which can be decided even after the swearing-in.
The real problem can come in the distribution of departments
In lieu of Eknath Shinde stepping down from the post of Chief Minister, Shiv Sena can demand some important ministries in the new government. The party had already said that it wants the Home Ministry. Earlier, the Home Ministry was with Devendra Fadnavis for many years. In such a situation, Shiv Sena can demand the Home Ministry for itself along with taking the post of Deputy CM.
On the other hand, NCP has demanded equal respect as Shinde Shiv Sena in the cabinet. Party leader Chhagan Bhujbal had recently said that his party’s strike rate was better and the distribution of ministerial posts should also be done accordingly.
Mahayuti captured 235 out of 288 assembly seats
The results of Maharashtra assembly elections came on 23 November. In these results, Mahayuti won 235 seats out of a total of 288 assembly seats. BJP won the maximum 132 seats, while its ally – Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde won 57 seats and NCP led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar won 41 seats. Apart from this, five seats were won by other parties in the Mahayuti – Jan Surajya Shakti (2), Rashtriya Yuva Swabhiman Party (1) and Rashtriya Samaj Paksha (1).
On the contrary, Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA), which won the maximum number of seats in the Lok Sabha, suffered a major setback in the assembly elections. In the MVA, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) won 20 seats, Congress won 16 seats and Sharad Pawar-led NCP (NCP) got only 10 seats.
What happened after the results?
After the historic victory of Mahayuti in Maharashtra, the exercise to form the government intensified. A round of separate meetings started in the alliance’s constituents BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP. Along with this, the politics of pressurising for the CM post also started. On the very next day of the result i.e. on November 24, a meeting of the NCP Legislature Party was held in which Ajit Pawar was elected leader. Party leader Chhagan Bhujbal demanded Ajit Pawar to be made the Chief Minister. At the same time, Shiv Sena MLAs elected Eknath Shinde as their leader.
However, Shiv Sena leader Shinde indicated to give up his claim for the post of Chief Minister on November 27. He put an end to the ongoing discussion about the CM post by holding a press conference in Mumbai. Eknath Shinde said that I do not have a desire to become CM. Whatever decision PM Modi and Amit Shah take, I will accept it. There will be no hindrance from my side while forming the government. I am standing like a rock. Whatever decision is taken in the BJP meeting, we will accept it. I accept the BJP CM, Shinde said .
