The question of who will become Maharashtra's next Chief Minister remains unresolved as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stands firm on Devendra Fadnavis for the top post, rejecting suggestions from its ally, the Shiv Sena, to consider a "Bihar model." The Shiv Sena, which is advocating for Eknath Shinde to continue as Chief Minister, has drawn parallels with Bihar, where the BJP supported Nitish Kumar as CM despite having more seats.

BJP Rejects 'Bihar Model' Proposal

Responding to the proposal, BJP spokesperson Prem Shukla dismissed the idea, stating that the situation in Maharashtra is different. He emphasized that the BJP had made no pre-election commitment to keep Eknath Shinde in office. "In Bihar, the BJP honored its commitment to make Nitish Kumar the CM. In Maharashtra, no such promise was made during campaigning," Shukla told The Indian Express. He added that the BJP leadership had made it clear during the campaign that the Chief Minister would be decided post-results.

Shiv Sena Stands By Shinde

The Shiv Sena continues to back Shinde, with spokesperson Naresh Mhaske invoking the "Bihar model" to argue for Shinde’s reappointment. "Shinde deserves to remain Chief Minister, just as Nitish Kumar was retained in Bihar," Mhaske said. However, reports suggest the BJP is unhappy with perceived “pressure tactics” from Shinde’s camp, which has been vocal about their demand.

Election Results and Coalition Dynamics

The Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar-led NCP, secured a landslide victory in the recent elections, winning 230 out of 288 Assembly seats. The BJP emerged as the largest party with 132 seats, while the Shiv Sena and NCP won 57 and 41 seats, respectively. In contrast, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) managed only 46 seats.

Despite the BJP’s dominant performance, the Shiv Sena argues that Shinde's policies, particularly the popular Ladki Bahin Yojana, played a significant role in the alliance's success. Meanwhile, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP has thrown its weight behind Fadnavis, who previously served as Chief Minister from 2014 to 2019.

Eknath Shinde Resigns but Stays as Caretaker CM

On Tuesday, Eknath Shinde resigned as Chief Minister but was asked by Governor CP Radhakrishnan to continue as caretaker CM until the new government is sworn in. The BJP has indicated that it will take its time to announce a candidate for the top post, focusing first on finalizing the distribution of ministerial portfolios.

NCP Acknowledges 'Practical Limitations'

NCP president Sunil Tatkare acknowledged that while Ajit Pawar is deserving of the Chief Minister’s role, the party faces “practical limitations” in pushing his case. "We are realistic. Ajit Pawar should be CM, but we understand the ground realities," Tatkare told the media. He credited Shinde’s leadership and government schemes for the alliance's strong performance, particularly among women voters.

Decision Expected Soon

With the term of the Maharashtra Assembly having ended, the BJP and its allies are expected to finalize their choice for Chief Minister in the coming days. While the BJP is taking a cautious approach to avoid friction within the coalition, it remains confident that its decisive mandate will help establish a stable government.