Allies will decide Maharashtra CM post-election, Shinde remains BJP choice: Amit Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has expressed confidence that the ruling Mahayuti alliance will win the Maharashtra election on November 20 with a full majority. Speaking at the release of the BJP manifesto in Mumbai, Shah stated that the next Chief Minister will be chosen by the allies after the election results are announced.
Shah said, “Today Eknath Shinde is our Chief Minister. After the election, all three Mahayuti allies will sit together and choose the CM. We will not give Sharad Pawar that chance.” He criticised Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray and NCP chief Sharad Pawar, suggesting their prioritisation of family over leadership led to splits within their parties.
“Someday both these leaders will have to frame a policy to promote genuine talent and leadership in their parties. Otherwise their parties will continue to disintegrate,” said Shah. He even asked Uddhav Thackeray to introspect which side of the political fence is he occupying.
Shah also highlighted the contradictions within the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, pointing out BJP’s history of keeping poll promises, such as the abrogation of Article 370 and Ram Mandir construction. He cautioned the people of Maharashtra, citing chaos in Congress-ruled states like Himachal, Karnataka, and Telangana.
He questioned Sharad Pawar’s contribution to Maharashtra during his tenure as Union Minister in the Congress-led UPA government from 2004 to 2014. “While UPA allocated Rs 2 lakh crore for Maharashtra in 10 years, PM Narendra Modi’s government has allocated Rs 10 lakh crore.”
The “Sankalp Patra”, BJP’s manifesto, promises Rs 2,100 monthly cash transfer to women; enhancement of old age pension from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100 and expansion of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi from Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000. It also promises a strict law to bring forced conversions to zero.
Shah said all three Mahayuti partners — Shiv Sena, NCP and BJP — had published separate manifestoes and will form a group of ministers post election to ensure cent per cent implementation of promises made.
