Throughout the day, Shiv Sena MLAs have been building a case for Shinde to be CM again claiming that the elections were fought under his name. “We feel that the chief minister should be Shinde as the elections were fought with him being projected as the CM face. However, all the three party leaders will come together and take a decision,” said Sanjay Shirsat, Sena MLA and party spokesperson.
Deepak Kesarkar, another Shiv Sena MLA, said, “We want him to be the CM as the polls were fought under his leadership.” Others like Abdul Sattarl, Sillod MLA of the Sena also echoed the same.
Irrespective of what Shinde and his MLAs claim, the party is also aware that the Shiv Sena has no real leverage with the BJP due to the latter coming close to the majority on its own.
“We are aware that we can’t push the BJP too much. Also, even if the BJP leadership decides to repeat Shinde, there could be problems within the Maharashtra BJP unit,” said a Shiv Sena leader.
A power-sharing formula where the Shiv Sena and BJP each get the CM’s post for 2.5 years is also being suggested but it is not finding any takers from the BJP.Supporters of BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Devyani Farande, countered this by saying, “This is a clear mandate for the BJP. Hence, we feel Fadnavis should be the CM.”What has worked against the Sena is talks within the NCP that it would prefer Devendra Fadnavis over Shinde as the chief minister.
NCP leader, Chhagan Bhujbal, said this in an indirect way on Sunday when, in response to a question, he said, “We are not opposed to Fadnavis becoming the CM.”
BJP’S CLAIM
“The Central party command will take a final decision. However, if the MLAs are asked, we would unanimously recommend Devendra Fadnavis’s name, “said Chandrakant Patil, BJP leader and MLA, on Saturday.
