Maharashtra Elections 2024: Will Eknath Shinde Stay as Chief Minister?

Maharashtra Elections 2024: As the results of the Maharashtra Assembly elections unfolded, showing a clear win for the NDA's Mahayuti alliance, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde faced a crucial question: Who will take the CM chair? Responding cautiously, he said, "Let the final results come in. Just as we fought the elections together, all three parties will sit together and decide."

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Shinde Sena’s Victory Over Uddhav Thackeray’s Camp

This election marks a significant achievement for Eknath Shinde. Three years after his dramatic split from Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, Mr. Shinde has led his faction to a resounding victory. While Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) leads in 18 constituencies, the Shinde-led Sena is ahead in 56.

This performance is a massive improvement for Shinde’s camp, especially compared to the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year, where they won only seven seats, trailing behind Uddhav’s nine. This victory strengthens Mr. Shinde’s position in the ongoing battle for the Shiv Sena’s legacy.

BJP’s Massive Lead Sparks CM Post Debate

However, the Chief Minister’s seat is far from guaranteed for Mr. Shinde. The BJP, leading in 127 seats out of 148 contested, is now in a dominant position. This has sparked speculation about Devendra Fadnavis, the BJP’s senior leader and current Deputy Chief Minister, reclaiming the top spot.

When Mr. Shinde rebelled and brought down the Uddhav Thackeray-led government, Mr. Fadnavis accepted the Deputy CM role. But with such a strong mandate for the BJP, it seems unlikely that the party will settle for the No. 2 position again.

Eknath Shinde ’s Limited Bargaining Power

Mr. Shinde’s bargaining power in post-election negotiations seems limited. The Mahayuti alliance includes Ajit Pawar’s NCP, which has also performed well. With the BJP needing just one ally to maintain power, Mr. Shinde may find it challenging to demand the Chief Minister's post. However, he might push for key ministerial positions during discussions.

NDA’s Clear Majority, Opposition Trails Behind

The NDA has secured a strong lead, ahead in 225 out of 288 Assembly seats. Meanwhile, the Opposition’s Maha Vikas Aghadi is lagging, with only 55 seats.

While Eknath Shinde’s leadership has delivered a strong result, the final decision on Maharashtra’s Chief Minister will depend on discussions among the Mahayuti allies.

Also Read: Election Results 2024: Eknath Shinde or Devendra Fadnavis Who Will Lead Maharashtra as CM?