More than a week after the BJP-led NDA (Mahayuti) secured a landslide victory in the state elections, the new government in Maharashtra has yet to be sworn in.
The stage appears set for Devendra Fadnavis of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to be sworn in as Maharashtra’s chief minister on December 5. Party leaders have confirmed that his name has been finalized for the top post, which was also being contested by outgoing and caretaker CM Eknath Shinde.
He is likely to be elected as the legislature party leader in a meeting scheduled for either December 2 or 3, more than a week after the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), also known as Mahayuti in Maharashtra, secured a landslide victory in the state elections.
The Mahayuti alliance secured 230 of the 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra. The BJP led with 132 seats, followed by the Shiv Sena with 57 and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) with 41 seats.
The oath-taking ceremony for the new Mahayuti government is scheduled for the evening of December 5 at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, with Prime Minister Modi in attendance.
Maharashtra Government Formation | Key Points
- Fadnavis to be Next CM: BJP leaders have confirmed that Devendra Fadnavis will be the next chief minister of Maharashtra, with his election as legislature party leader expected during a meeting on December 2 or 3. This announcement comes after outgoing Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed support for the BJP’s decision on the new CM.
- Shinde Returns from Village: Caretaker CM and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde had traveled to his native village in Satara district on Friday, sparking speculation about his dissatisfaction with the new government. After developing a high fever, he returned to Mumbai on Sunday and reaffirmed his backing for the BJP’s choice of chief minister. Regarding the speculation that Shrikant Shinde could become deputy CM or that Shiv Sena was claiming the home portfolio, Shinde stated that discussions were ongoing.
- Sena Leader Criticizes NCP: BJP leader Raosaheb Danve claimed that if the undivided Shiv Sena and BJP had contested the elections together, they would have won more seats. Similarly, Shiv Sena MLA Gulabrao Patil argued that the Eknath Shinde-led party could have won 90-100 seats if Ajit Pawar’s NCP had not been part of the alliance. Patil added that Shinde never questioned the inclusion of the NCP in the government. In response, NCP spokesperson Amol Mitkari criticized Patil for making baseless statements.
Maharashtra Election Results: The BJP emerged as the largest party, securing 132 seats in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly. Its allies—Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, and NCP, led by Ajit Pawar—won 57 and 41 seats, respectively. Voting for the Maharashtra Assembly elections took place on November 20, and the results were announced on November 23.
