The BJP’s leadership has issued a compelling appeal to its party MLAs in Maharashtra, urging them to set aside personal ambitions and dedicate themselves tirelessly to the fulfillment of “Mission 45 plus” for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
“Mission 45” represents a critical battle for the BJP in Maharashtra, where 48 Lok Sabha seats are at stake. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party secured 23 seats, while its alliance partner won 18 seats.
This call to action by senior BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis echoes sentiments expressed at successive party meetings held in Pune, Nagpur, and Mumbai over the past two months. Fadnavis has consistently encouraged party workers and MLAs to prioritize the national interest of the party and devote every moment to its organizational goals.
A highly-placed source within the BJP emphasized the significance of this directive, stating, “The directives from central and state top leadership to the Maharashtra MLAs is to work single-mindedly for the reelection of PM Narendra Modi in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls with a greater mandate.”“The focus should not be on ministerial roles at this time. Instead, they should strive to strengthen their constituencies and organizational capabilities. Those who excel and deliver results will be duly rewarded in due course,” the source added.
This directive comes amidst a growing number of senior MLAs vying for ministerial positions, with a surplus of aspirants from the three alliance partners, surpassing the limited number of cabinet slots available in the state. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis have also indicated the likelihood of cabinet expansion in recent months, with the Shiv Sena suggesting the possibility of such expansion during the Ganesh festival.
A senior BJP functionary, speaking on condition of anonymity, emphasized the collective nature of the cabinet expansion process within a coalition government. They noted that while it falls under the CM’s jurisdiction, the allies, BJP and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), will have substantial influence over the process in the current political landscape. With the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for April-May 2024, there is a mere six-month window remaining for the polls. The Maharashtra BJP is cautious not to alienate its MLAs during this crucial period. Additionally, approval from the central leadership is necessary, and the party must navigate other priorities, such as the forthcoming Assembly elections in states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
Currently, each of the three parties in the alliance holds nine ministerial positions, totaling 30 ministers in the Maharashtra government, including CM Shinde and two deputy CMs, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar. However, the permissible limit for the state cabinet is 43 ministers, including the CM. With 13 vacancies to fill, the number of ministerial aspirants surpasses the available slots. The BJP, with 106 MLAs, has approximately 10 to 15 aspirants eagerly awaiting cabinet positions. Shiv Sena, led by Shinde, has at least six MLAs expressing a desire for ministerial roles, while the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar, with 36-plus MLAs, boasts eight serious contenders for ministerial berths.
