‘Maha’ Politics: Did Ajit Pawar Support Devendra Fadnavis’ Candidature For Maharashtra CM Post?

Mumbai: After the landslide victory of the Mahayuti alliance, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Ajit Pawar has reportedly agreed to BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis as Maharashtra CM. Pawar has given his approval on Fadnavis as the next CM, reported the News18.

However, there has been no confirmation from the Eknath Shinde camp of Shiv Sena. This report comes ahead of the Mahayuti meeting in New Delhi on Monday (Nov 25). The alliance leaders – Ajit Pawar, Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde – are likely to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda on Monday in New Delhi.

While Ajit Pawar’s NCP is said to have supported Fadnavis’ CM candidature, Sena MLAs are reportedly pitching for continuing Shinde as CM since the election was fought under his leadership. The Sena MLAs reportedly credit the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, a scheme providing financial assistance to poor women, for Mahayuti’s landslide victory.

Mahayuti — comprising Shinde’s Sena, BJP and Ajit Pawar’s NCP— won 235 seats. The BJP emerged as the single largest party with 132 seats in its kitty. Ajit Pawar’s NCP won 41 seats and Shinde’s Sena bagged 57 seats. Maha Vikas Aghadi comprising Sharad Pawar’s NCP, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena and Congress managed to win just 46 seats.

Eknath Shinde to resign as CM: Reports

Meanwhile, Eknath Shinde is likely to resign as Maharashtra’s Chief Minister on Tuesday (November 26), reports claimed. However, the Shiv Sena (Shinde) chief will continue as the caretaker CM until a new CM and cabinet is sworn in, reported the Mint.