The possibility of the BJP installing its own man as CM looks more likely than not. However, the question remains: Will that man be Fadnavis, or someone else?
New Delhi: The resounding victory of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in Maharashtra, in which the BJP won a staggering 133 of the 148 seats it contested, has shifted the spotlight to who the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra will be. The key question is whether the BJP will continue with the current arrangement of having Eknath Shinde of Shiv Sena, who won 57 seats, remain as CM or bring in someone from within the party to replace him. A section within the party believes that if the BJP has to hold on to its position of the most prominent party of the state, then it should not shy away from having its own CM. In wake of the BJP’s strong performance, the NDA won on 231, leaving the I.N.D.I.A bloc gasping at 45 seats.
While the BJP and NDA’s campaign focused on the development work carried out by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government, many BJP supporters and cadres believe that one of the primary reasons for the NDA’s victory was the possibility of Devendra Fadnavis becoming the Chief Minister.
Sources in BJP have said that in the current set-up too just like the last time, there will still be two Deputy Chief Ministers.
Fadnavis, who has taken the oath of CM twice (October 2014 and again for five days on 23 November 2019), was denied what his supporters say was his rightful chance to be appointed CM when Eknath Shinde of the Shiv Sena was appointed on 30 June 2022.
Fadnavis is considered a protégé of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and has even managed to limit the influence of another BJP Maharashtra heavyweight and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in state politics.
However, what may go against him being considered for the CM post is his Brahmin caste. When Fadnavis was appointed CM for the first time in 2014, he was only the second Brahmin CM after Shiv Sena’s Manohar Joshi.
Given the current political climate in Maharashtra, where Maratha identity is strongly asserted, and the pan-India political situation where both national parties, Congress and BJP, are courting the Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Fadnavis’ Brahmin background could overshadow his other attractive qualities and backing from the Sangh.
Moreover, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, who make the final call on such important decisions, have repeatedly shown that they can, and will, appoint someone who is not even considered a frontrunner. This approach is usually taken to develop new and multiple leadership in the state and strengthen the party in the long run as seen in the recent elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan.
Another key factor influencing the BJP leadership’s decision is that Fadnavis’ Brahmin identity may not align with the political needs of the moment. The BJP may prefer to retain Eknath Shinde in his position as CM, given that he has established himself as an accessible and popular leader. Shinde, who belongs to the Kunbi caste, classified as an OBC in Maharashtra, is also part of the Maratha group. Socially, he ticks both the right boxes—OBC and Maratha.
However, an important reason for the BJP leadership to appoint a BJP CM will be the fact that the BJP has outperformed all other parties by a significant margin. If they are to emerge as the dominant party in the state and reduce the influence of regional groups, this may be the best time to appoint someone from their own party as CM. The rotational CM policy, as they experienced last time, never ends well.
Given this scenario, and according to indications received by The Sunday Guardian from relevant sources, the possibility of the BJP installing its own man as CM looks more likely than not. However, the question remains: Will that man be Fadnavis, or someone else? Sources suggest that this decision will be finalised in the coming two to three days.