Mumbai:
Before the counting of votes in Maharashtra, the biggest question before Mahayuti and Mahavikas Aghadi is who will be the contender for the post of Chief Minister? Counting of votes will take place on Saturday, only then will it be known which camp the public has chosen. But before this, differences have emerged within the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition Mahavikas Aghadi over who will lead the next government, as parties from both the camps are laying claim to the post of Chief Minister.
Concern increased in Mahavikas Aghadi due to Nana Patole’s statement
After voting ended on Wednesday evening for the 288-member Assembly, the ruling and opposition fronts started claiming that the mandate would be in their favor when the votes are counted on November 23. Soon after the voting, state Congress chief Nana Patole said that the MVA government will be formed in Maharashtra under the leadership of his party. He said, voting trends show that Congress will get maximum seats in the new assembly. Nana Patole’s comments did not go down well with ally Shiv Sena (UBT), whose leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday insisted that the chief ministerial face will be decided jointly by all alliance partners after the MVA wins majority. The Rajya Sabha MP said that if the Congress high command has told Patole that he will be the chief ministerial face, then national party president Mallikarjun Kharge and its top leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra should announce it.
Will Shinde be the Chief Minister of Maharashtra again?
The MVA, which includes the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and the NCP (SP), and the Mahayuti, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena and the NCP, have expressed confidence that their alliance will form the next government after the counting of votes on Saturday, despite most exit polls have predicted that the Mahayuti will retain power, some have supported the MVA. On behalf of Mahayuti, Shiv Sena MLA and party spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat said that the assembly elections were fought as the face of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Shirsat said, “Voters have shown their preference for Shinde through voting. I think it is Shinde’s right (to become the next chief minister) and we are confident that he will be the next chief minister.”
Ajit Pawar’s name also came forward
BJP leader Praveen Darekar spoke in favor of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for the top post. He said, “I think if anyone from BJP is becoming CM, it will be Devendra Fadnavis.” NCP leader Amol Mitkari put forward the name of his party chief and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar for this prestigious post. Mitkari said, “Whatever the results, NCP will be the kingmaker.” Asked about the chief ministerial face, Fadnavis said all three Mahayuthi parties will sit together and take a “good decision”.
