The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is preparing to stake its claim to form the government in Maharashtra following its resounding victory in the state elections. According to Deepak Kesarkar, a senior leader from the Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena, the oath-taking ceremony is expected to take place tomorrow. It is likely that only the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Ministers will be sworn in initially, with decisions on other cabinet members yet to be finalized.

The race for the Chief Minister's position appears to be between Eknath Shinde and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, although it remains unclear who will be chosen for the role. Speaking after the election results, both leaders emphasized that the decision will involve consultations with all alliance partners. "There will be no disagreement over the Chief Minister's post. From the beginning, it was agreed that the leaders of the three parties would come together to decide after the elections," Fadnavis stated.

The Mahayuti alliance achieved a decisive victory, winning 235 out of 288 seats in the assembly. Among these, the BJP emerged as the largest party with 132 seats, solidifying its position as the senior partner in the alliance. This dominance has fueled speculation that Shinde may serve under Fadnavis, a claim that the opposition has used to target the Shiv Sena faction led by Shinde.

Maharashtra's Chief Ministership has been a contentious issue in the past, leading to significant political upheavals. In 2019, a power-sharing dispute between Uddhav Thackeray and Fadnavis caused a split within the NDA, leading to the exit of the unified Shiv Sena. This enabled the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, a coalition of the Shiv Sena, Congress, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), with Thackeray as Chief Minister.

The political landscape shifted dramatically in 2022 when Eknath Shinde, a key ally of Thackeray, broke away from the Shiv Sena along with several legislators. This led to the collapse of the MVA government, paving the way for Shinde to become Chief Minister with the BJP’s support. The Mahayuti alliance further bolstered its strength when Ajit Pawar split from the NCP to back Shinde’s government, deepening the divisions within the opposition.

As the BJP and its allies gear up to form the government once again, all eyes remain on the leadership decision and the future dynamics within the Mahayuti alliance.