The process of forming a new government in Maharashtra has accelerated. According to sources, the oath-taking ceremony is expected to be held on December 5 in Mumbai, possibly at Azad Maidan or Mahalaxmi Racecourse. However, there has been no official announcement regarding the name of the Chief Minister yet, and the BJP has remained silent on this issue. Meanwhile, a meeting of the legislators has already been convened. Eknath Shinde has urged the BJP to choose its leader soon so that discussions on cabinet formation can take place. Due to the delay in announcing the Chief Ministerial candidate, speculations are rising that a new name could emerge.
Could BJP Have a New CM?
On Thursday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah met with the leaders of the Maha Yuti. Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar were also part of the meeting. According to reports, it was indicated that the Chief Minister will be from the BJP, but the specific name has not been clarified yet.
Will Devendra Fadnavis Be the CM?
After the BJP’s victory with 132 seats in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Devendra Fadnavis’s name has been prominently discussed for the Chief Minister’s position. However, the BJP has yet to make an official announcement. During the meeting with Amit Shah, no final decision was made regarding Fadnavis as the Chief Minister. This has sparked discussions about whether the BJP might present a new face for the CM position.
BJP Has Surprised Before
After winning the 2014 Assembly elections, names like Eknath Khadse and Gopinath Munde were in the race, but the BJP surprised everyone by choosing Devendra Fadnavis as the Chief Minister. Even after the fall of the Uddhav government, there were speculations about Fadnavis becoming the CM again, but suddenly Eknath Shinde’s name emerged, and he was appointed as the Chief Minister. BJP has often surprised with its political strategies, and the question arises: if Devendra Fadnavis does not become the Chief Minister, who will be chosen by the BJP? This question now revolves around two prominent names.
Two New Names in the Race for CM
- Chandrashekhar Bawankule
Apart from Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule’s name is also being discussed for the Chief Minister’s post. Bawankule, a legislator from the Kamthi constituency, is serving his fourth term in the Assembly. He was the Minister of Energy and Excise in the Fadnavis government until 2014. Bawankule hails from the Teli community, the second-largest OBC community in the Vidarbha region. In the 2019 elections, he was fielded by the BJP, but he was appointed Maharashtra BJP President on August 12, 2022. He is also considered a close associate of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. - Muralidhar Mohol
Another name making the rounds for the CM position is Muralidhar Mohol, the Member of Parliament from Pune. He won his first Lok Sabha election in 2024 and was inducted into the Modi Cabinet. Mohol has been active in the BJP for three decades and previously served as the Mayor of Pune. His political experience and his connection to the important Pune seat make him a strong contender for the Chief Minister’s post.
What’s Next?
The ongoing discussions about the Chief Minister’s post in Maharashtra suggest that the BJP will take a strategic approach before making a decision. The names of Fadnavis, Bawankule, and Mohol are under consideration for the post. It remains to be seen who the BJP will choose to be the Chief Minister and what the next step in Maharashtra’s political landscape will be.
