Mumbai: Three days after the declaration of results of the assembly election, the Mahayuti was yet to decide on the chief minister owing to lack of consensus. As a result, there is complete uncertainty over the swearing-in ceremony of the CM.
Initially, it was expected that the new CM will be sworn-in in a day or two after the declaration of results, but now there are no signs of it.
According to reports, both BJP and Shiv Sena have staked claim to the CM post. BJP is insisting on the appointment of Devendra Fadnavis as the CM, while Shiv Sena is keen on continuation of Eknath Shinde as the CM.
Both NCP and Shiv Sena have elected leaders of the legislature party. Ajit Pawar has been elected as the group leader, while Shinde will be the group leader of Shiv Sena. BJP is yet to appoint a group leader, since the BJP leadership is yet to appoint a central observer for conducting the meeting.
As per BJP’s practice, the BJP high command appoints a central observer for presiding over the meeting of newly elected legislators and leader of the legislature party is appointed in his presence.
A BJP politician said that once the group leader is appointed then the process of appointment of CM will be expedited. In the recent past, senior BJP leaders had stated that once the legislature party leader is appointed, CM will be selected in consultation with the heads of Shiv Sena and NCP and BJP high command.
A Shiv Sena politician said following the dispute over the appointment of the CM, now there is not even routine communication between Shinde and Fadnavis. “BJP has taken the view that since it has secured the largest number of seats, it has first claim on the CM post, while Shinde has taken the view that immediately after the Lok Sabha election, he was assured that irrespective of the number of seats, in the event Mahayuti secures a clear majority, Shinde will continue as CM,” he said.
A top NCP politician reiterated that after the results were declared there was no communication from the BJP. “We are keen that in view of the massive victory for the Mahayuti, the dispute over the CM post must be resolved on top priority. The delay is sending a wrong signal to the people of Maharashtra. It will be most appropriate if Amit Shah steps in and convenes a meeting of leaders of BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP to resolve the dispute,” he said.