On Saturday, Ajit Pawar, president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), confirmed that the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra will be from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He further revealed that two Deputy Chief Ministers will be appointed from the other constituents of the ruling "Mahayuti" alliance. The Mahayuti coalition includes the BJP, Shiv Sena (led by Eknath Shinde), and NCP (led by Ajit Pawar).

The alliance recently secured a historic victory in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections, with BJP emerging as the largest party, winning 132 seats, followed by Shiv Sena with 57 seats and NCP with 41 seats. Despite the electoral success, the formal government formation process has been delayed, and the position of the Chief Minister is yet to be finalized.

Maharashtra CM Will Be From BJP, Deputy CMs from Alliance Partners: Ajit Pawar

Ajit Pawar made this announcement while in the city to meet 95-year-old social activist Dr. Baba Adhav, who had recently protested against the alleged misuse of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the elections. When asked about the Chief Minister's position, Pawar said, "The Chief Minister of Maharashtra will be from the BJP, and two Deputy Chief Ministers will be appointed from the other partners in the Mahayuti. The oath-taking ceremony is likely to take place on December 5. We have decided to move forward with a strong vision."

Oath-Taking Ceremony Scheduled for December 5

Chandrashekhar Bawankule, president of BJP Maharashtra, confirmed in the evening that the new Mahayuti government will take the oath of office on December 5, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai. However, the name of the next Chief Minister has not yet been officially declared. According to BJP sources, former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is currently the frontrunner for the position. Fadnavis, who has previously served as Chief Minister twice, was also the Deputy Chief Minister in the previous government led by Eknath Shinde.

What Will the Government Formation Formula Be?

Though the name of the Chief Minister is still under wraps, sources suggest that Devendra Fadnavis is the most likely candidate. As part of the power-sharing agreement, Maharashtra's next government is expected to have two Deputy Chief Ministers, one each from Shiv Sena and NCP, in addition to the BJP-led CM.

Delay in Government Formation

The delay in finalizing the government comes despite the Mahayuti coalition's resounding victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. The BJP emerged as the largest party with 132 seats, while its allies Shiv Sena and NCP secured 57 and 41 seats, respectively. However, the delay in the formation of the new government has raised questions about the leadership and the final distribution of key portfolios.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the Chief Minister’s post, Ajit Pawar's clarification on the leadership structure has provided some clarity. The coalition seems determined to move ahead with the governance plans and is expected to announce more details soon.