BJP Legislature Party likely to choose Maharashtra Chief Minister on December 4
Eknath Shinde’s son Shrikant quashes rumours about his name being considered for the Deputy Chief Minister’s post
Updated - December 02, 2024 11:27 pm IST - New Delhi
A poster seeking BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis’ “comeback” is seen in Nagpur on December 2, 2024. | Photo Credit: ANI
With the swearing-in ceremony of the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra two days away, the Shiv Sena is yet to decide on the Deputy Chief Minister. Caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde continues to recover from illness, even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has appointed two central observers and has called for its Legislature Party meeting on Wednesday (December 4, 2024) in Mumbai, likely paving way for the appointment of Devendra Fadnavis as the Chief Minister.
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On Monday evening (December 2, 2024) , Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar reached New Delhi. And, Mr. Shinde’s son, Lok Sabha MP Shrikant Shinde, took to X to deny reports about his name being considered for the Deputy Chief Minister’s position.
“The swearing-in ceremony of the Maha-Yuti government has been delayed, which has led to a surge in the discussions and rumours. Hon (sic) caretaker CM Shri Eknath Shinde had to take rest at his native place for two days due to health issues... There have been speculations about me becoming the DCM. But these news reports are baseless and unfounded,” he posted.
Top sources in the Shiv Sena told The Hindu that the decision on the Deputy Chief Minister had not yet been taken and it is not yet clear if Mr. Shinde will take the post or appoint someone else.
“We have asked for the Home portfolio. But the discussion on it has not yet taken place. We will be a part of the government. It will be a Shiv Sena DCM. We will have our share of the cabinet berths. But the decision on who the face of the DCM will be, has not yet been taken,” a senior leader said.
Sources said that since Mr. Shinde was recovering, the discussion had not gone ahead. “There is no problem about coordination. He has worked so hard for such a long time. He is now recovering,” a leader close to the caretaker Chief Minister said.
Mr. Shinde has sought 14 Ministerial berths, including the 10 the party had held in the previous government. The demand for the remaining four Cabinet berths includes meaty portfolios, including Home. “It depends on how the BJP treats Shinde saaheb. If respectable treatment is given and key portfolios are handed (over), he might think of keeping the DCM position to himself. Else, he might even think of giving the position to someone else,” a close aide told The Hindu.
BJP names observers
The BJP appointed Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani as central observers for the legislature meeting of BJP’s MLA-elects who will appoint the legislature leader and the Chief Whip of the party at a meeting on December 4 at the central hall of Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai.
“The high command has given us the responsibility of being the observers for selecting the party leader in the State. After the process of selecting a leader, the report will be sent to the high command and then the results will be declared,” Mr. Rupani told the media.
On Monday, Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule visited Azad Maidan and inspected the preparations being made for the oath-taking ceremony.
BJP leader Girish Mahajan paid a courtesy visit to Mr. Shinde on Monday night to enquire about his health. He told reporters that the visit had no political purpose. “Everything is perfectly fine in the alliance. We will all form government on December 5,” he said.
Published - December 02, 2024 04:41 pm IST
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