New Delhi (03.12.2024): Delay in the formation of the Mahayuti government led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Maharashtra has given rise to speculation that the BJP may yet again be kept out of power in the state by combined number of Shiv Sena (both), Nationalist Congress Party (both) and the Congress that may take the number to 144 and if support of the two MLAs of Samajwadi Party is added, it makes the number one more than required for majority in the Assembly.
There are couple of more supporters of the MVA taking the number to somewhere 149 to 150. The news of MVA forming the government started gaining currency after constant news reports of Eknath Shinde falling ill and hopping one hospital to another. This has sent a message if he is really unwell or buying time.
But is this possible, acceptable and viable in the new situation where the BJP alone is just short of 13 MLAs to form the government in the state. One must not forget that the BJP did not let MVA government to complete its term in Maharashtra for its conviction that mandate in the state was for the BJP and the Shiv Sena which was hijacked by MVA where Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP) and the Congress joined hands. Moreover, more than half a dozen BJP leaders contesting last elections on Shiv Sena tickets have reached the assembly. The BJP smashed the citadel of the Shiv Sena and broke the family party to capture power in the most sought-after state after Uttar Pradesh when its number was at 105 to form the government. Will it let go the chance to form the government when it managed to get historical mandate in the state by winning 132 seats.
There are certainly some intra-party and inter-party players causing the delay in the formation of the government and keeping a suspense intact if Devendra Fadnavis will be the next Chief Minister of the state or not. But for them, this time round the situation is like ‘heads I win, tales you loose because if Fadnavis is denied his rightful claim as the CM, he will be given such a responsibility that every BJP CM will be subservient to him with him being the party president.
The deal was cut for him long before and this was the reason that the RSS with all its paraphernalia was behind the Fadnavis in Maharashtra elections. This must also be noted that the BJP is in power in Maharashtra for all practical purposes to tell that DGP Rashmi Shukla was reinstated the very next day of Mahayuti winning the election and Rs 10 crore given to Waqf Board taken back. Everyone knows very well Devendra Fadnavis was behind this decision. So, he seems to have already started working as the CM. Formation of Maharashtra government appears to be like the climax of Bollywood, it will certainly be a Paisa Wasoor drama on December 5, 2024.
