Maha CM choice: Will it be Fadnavis or Shinde?

Decision likely to be made today amid BJP pressure to make Fadnavis CM again

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru Amid a terse statement by Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Sunday that leaders of the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the BJP leadership will decide who will be the next chief minister of the state, hectic parleys are on in the commercial capital of the country with the BJP rank and file favouring former CM Devendra Fadnavis for the coveted post. Not to be left behind, the Shiv Sena faction led by current CM Eknath Shinde chose him as their legislature party leader - a prerequisite for any leader aspiring for the top post while the Ajit Pawar group of the NCP chose Pawar as the leader.

A decision on the CM choice is likely to be made on Monday in consultation with home minister Amit Shah and other BJP bigwigs, said sources. Bawankule gave enough hints that the BJP would like to have the CM post pointing out that all sections of society supported the party and had rejected the Congress. The BJPled Mahayuti, which also comprises the Shiv Sena of Shinde and NCP of deputy CM Ajit Pawar, had retained power in the state by bagging 230 of the 288 assembly seats. The Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi managed to garner just 46 seats. The BJP bagged 132 seats, the Shiv Sena won 57, while the NCP got 41 seats. The Shinde Sena is likely to push for Shinde as CM as he had spearheaded the poll campaign for the Mahayuti and had also pioneered the many welfare schemes which played a pivotal role in its skyrocketing fortunes.

There are also voices for retaining the CM - two Deputy CMs formula of the outgoing government which had Shinde as CM, and Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar as Deputy CMs. It remains to be seen if the BJP would let go of the CM post after winning a staggering 132 seats with reports suggesting that the RSS too is backing Fadnavis for the CM post.

'Ladki Bahin, polarisation did us in'

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday said the Ladki Bahin scheme, women's participation in voting in large numbers, and religious polarisation may have played a role in Mahayuti's victory in Maharashtra assembly polls. Responding to a query on his retirement from active politics, Pawar tersely said he and his party colleagues will decide.

Speaking to reporters in Karad city in Satara district, Pawar acknowledged that the NCP led by his nephew and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar secured more seats than the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), adding "Everyone knows who founded the NCP". Responding to a query on EVMs, a day after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut expressed doubts over the massive verdict in Mahayuti's favour, Pawar said he would speak about EVMs only if he has official data.