Bhubaneswar: former Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has finally been pushed to the wall by the Bharatiya Janata Party over the selection of Chief Minister in the state. The BJP has virtually ignored all the claims and arguments of Shinde for the post which he held for nearly two and half years. Union Home Minister Amit Shah appears to have convinced Shinde that his arguments in support of his claims for the post does not stand as the BJP has emerged the biggest political party in the Mahayuti alliance bagging 133 seats. Hence it is BJP’s turn for the post and Shinde have to remain satisfied with the Deputy Chief Minister along with Ajit Pawar of NCP.
Secondly, there is murmur in Maharashtra that several elected MLAs and MPs of the Maha Vikash Aghadi alliance are in touch with the BJP switch alliance. A top leader and close confidant of stalwart Sharad Pawar is reported to have met BJP leaders in Maharashtra and is rumoured to have offered to switch alliance. Several MLAs belonging to Independents and some other smaller parties are also in touch with the BJP as they do not see a bright future being in the MVA. There number is stated to be around six which means the BJP strength will rise to 139 if they decide to join the saffron party. Almost the entire NCP MLAs numbering about 10 are also reportedly keen to switch allegiance to BJP en masse for the same reason. If that happens the BJP numbers would swell to 149—four more than the 145 required for the BJP to form a government on its own.
Interestingly, the NCP led by Ajit Pawar with 41 members is so far standing rock solid with the BJP providing the party the extra strength to remain in saddle as long as it wants.
Under these circumstances, Shinde is left with no options and sees no point in sulking though BJP sincerely wants it become a part of the Mahayuti government formed in State.
Shinde’s proposal to make his son and Lok Sabha MP Shrikant Shinde the deputy Chief Minister instead of him appears to have been rejected by Shah as it would negate the stand taken by Shinde when he split from Uddav Thackrey. The younger Shinde meanwhile has refuted talks doing round that he is in the race for the post of Chief Minister.
This announcement of the younger Shinde is seen as a meltdown of Eknath Shinde who might agree with Shah’s proposal to take up the Deputy Chief Minister assignment with those portfolios he held during his own tenure as Chief Minister. Hence the talks that he has set some harsh conditions and put the BJP in an awkward situation also holds no ground.
One thing is certain that Shah has got his way and will settle for things he wants.
