Mahayuti in a huddle ahead of CM pick; oath likely today

After clinching a historic victory in Maharashtra, allies of the ruling coalition — BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP — got into a huddle to elect their respective leaders ahead of the selection for chief minister.

BJP MLAs met with state president Chandrakant Bawankule to take a call on the party legislature leader. NCP MLAs met separately and elected Ajit Pawar as the leader of their legislative party. Shiv Sena legislators elected CM Eknath Shinde as their leader and authorised him to take a call on their behalf.

All three allies are now expected to meet to elect the CM. Sources said oath-taking ceremony of the new government is likely to be held on Monday as the new Assembly must be constituted before November 26, when the term of the outgoing state Assembly will expire.

The allies are likely to continue with the existing power sharing arrangement — CM and two deputy CMs. Eknath Shinde, the prominent Maratha leader, is still in active contention for the top job.

It remains to be seen if the BJP, which has earned the right to have its own CM, having won 90 per cent seats that it contested and almost reaching the simple majority of 145 in a 288-member Assembly on its own, honours “coalition dharma” and retains Shinde as the Maharashtra CM. Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis is also a contender for the CM post, with posters in his favour coming up across the state.

Politically, the BJP that won 132 of the 149 seats it fought, has the legitimate right to claim the CM’s chair.

It may, however, pull off a surprise in Maharashtra by allowing the winning status quo to continue and go for a change later sometime.

Party insiders say Devendra Fadnavis is a hot favourite for the post. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also addressed Fadnavis as “mere param mitra” (my best friend) in his victory speech in the Capital on Saturday.