Shinde still holds key to Mahayuti in Maharashtra, will BJP agree to his demand of Hone, Assembly speaker

Mumbai, Dec 3: Even as the BJP is all set to hold its meeting of the newly elected MLAs to elect its.leader for the legislative assembly and also announce the Chief Ministerial candidate, the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde holds the key for the Maharashtra government given the fact that he is one of the most popular leader in the state.

The BJP has announced Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani as the party’s observer for Maharashtra. Both the leaders are all set to hold the meeting tomorrow in Mumbai to decide the next leader of party in the assembly.

With Shinde himself announcing that he will not prove to be a speedbreaker for the Mahayuti government and any proposal by the central BJP leadership will be acceptable to him has only ignited the debate on how the BJP treats its alliance partners.

The sources said that Shinde wants Home department and the post ofnthe Spasker even as rhe meeting of the Mahayuti leaders is again expected to finalise the portfolios in the state, where the Mahayuti got the massive mandate in the assembly polls where it won 230 out of 288 seats. The BJP won 132, while Shinde led Shiv Sena won 57 and Ajit Pawar-led NCP won 41 seats in the state.

According to BJP sources, the BJP, Shiv Sena and Left parties are considered the cadre based parties. And given the fact that Shinde broke away with the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray in 2021 with 40 MLAs and most of the party workers would need proper respect from the BJP.

The source said that the BJP leaders feel that the Shiv Sena led by Shinde faction deserves respect and it must be given nine portfolios like it had got previously.

Meanwhile, the Shinde faction is yet to agree on the BJP’s demands of giving up on home department. However, the Shinde led Shiv Sena is demanding for the Home portfolio and the post of the assembly speaker.

Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar had already met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and also BJP national president JP Nadda in the national capital. According to sources, BJP leadership clearly indicated that the Chief Minister post will be with it and they need to finalise the portfolios among themselves.

However, after returning from the national capital Shinde had left for Satara to his ancestral village. He returned to Mumbai last evening and still the three leaders are yet to have a video conference call to discuss the portfolios.

So it now left to be seen whether Shinde will finalise the portfolios ahead of swearing in ceremony or the process will get delayed and more Minister’s will be sworn in after the oath ceremony of Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministersin the state.

The first session of Assembly will take place from November 7 to 9 for the oath taking process of all MLAs.