Mumbai, Nov 30 (PTI) — The Mahayuti alliance, comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), is all set to form the new government in Maharashtra on December 5, with senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis emerging as the frontrunner for the chief minister’s post.
Alliance’s Dominant Performance in the Elections
In the recently concluded Maharashtra assembly elections on November 20, the Mahayuti alliance secured a decisive victory, winning 230 of the 288 assembly seats.
- BJP: 132 seats (largest single party).
- Shiv Sena: 57 seats.
- Ajit Pawar-led NCP: 41 seats.
Key Developments in Government Formation
Despite the clear electoral mandate, the formation of the government has faced delays due to ongoing discussions within the alliance over power-sharing agreements.
- Leadership Discussions:
- Meetings involving Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde, and Ajit Pawar with BJP president J.P. Nadda and Union Minister Amit Shah were held to finalize the government structure.
- A key alliance meeting was postponed from Friday to Sunday as caretaker CM Eknath Shinde visited his native Satara.
- Support for Fadnavis:
- Shinde has pledged full support for the BJP’s choice of chief minister, while Ajit Pawar’s faction of the NCP has endorsed Fadnavis for the position.
Next Steps
- December 2: BJP legislature party meeting to formally select its leader.
- December 5: Swearing-in ceremony, likely to be held at Azad Maidan, South Mumbai.
Setback for Opposition
The Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a severe defeat:
- Congress: 16 seats (one of its worst performances in Maharashtra).
- Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP): 10 seats.
- Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT): 20 seats.
This electoral outcome has further consolidated the dominance of the Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra’s political landscape.
The upcoming government formation marks a pivotal moment, with Fadnavis poised to take the reins and lead Maharashtra into its next political chapter.
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