Suspense on over Ministry Formation in Maharashtra, BJP Claims MVA Members in Touch

Manas Dasgupta

NEW DELHI, Dec 11: Even a week after the three party – “Mahayuti” government was installed in the office on December 5 ending over two weeks of high drama over ministry formation, the chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is still fumbling with deciding on the ministerial berths for each of its alliance partners.

The Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde who held up the government formation floating the demand for retaining him as the chief minister and only grudgingly accepting to stay in the government with a demotion of deputy chief minister’s post to bring the curtain down on nearly two weeks of suspense, is again learnt to be laying truant in delaying expansion of the ministry.

This week the Sena boss has sparked a whole new period of tension for the BJP-led Mahayuti that romped to victory in the November 23 Maharashtra election. Sources said on Wednesday evening he may not be present in Delhi when Mr Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, whose Nationalist Congress Party is the third Mahayuti member, meet Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss portfolios.

Mr Shinde is said to be of the opinion that his presence at the meeting would be meaningless since the BJP has already rejected his main demand and condition in accepting the deputy’s post, home portfolio to Shiv Sena. The ‘who-gets-what-ministry’ battle – and the new Maharashtra government’s cabinet formation – Is expected to be the next big challenge for the BJP and Mr Fadnavis, particularly after it emerged earlier each of its two allies had demanded plum posts in exchange for their support.

Mr Shinde’s Sena faction is believed to have argued that Mr Shinde during his chief ministership in the last House had given the home portfolio to Mr Fadnavis who then was his deputy, and the gesture should now be repeated in the reverse trend. The argument here is it is the only prize big enough to compensate for surrendering the Chief Minister’s chair. However, the BJP is unlikely to want to give up Home; the argument there is the party feels it has a number of candidates who can run the department effectively. The Sena may be offered Urban Development, Public Works Department, and Revenue.

Mr Pawar’s NCP is said to want at least an equal share, even if it won fewer seats. The party has pointed to a better ‘strike rate’ – i.e., percentage of seats contested and won – to back its claim. Specifically, it wants the Finance portfolio – held previously by Mr Pawar under Mr Shinde – to be returned.

Unfortunately for the BJP there is a headache within a headache on this count, as the Sena is also believed to want the Finance ministry berth. And, unfortunately for Mr Shinde, that too is a wish unlikely to come to fruition, for Finance, Planning, and Irrigation may go to the NCP. An overall framework for allocation of portfolios was reached last month; under this deal the BJP gets 22, the Sena around 12, and the NCP around nine.

The ruling alliance and the BJP’s central leadership would want the deadlock to be resolved by December 16 when the new Assembly meets. Otherwise it might face jeer from the small opposition for being unable to form the ministry because of internal rumblings despite winning a massive mandate.

Its own internal tussle notwithstanding, the BJP Maharashtra president Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Wednesday claimed that several MPs and MLAs from the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) were dissatisfied with their alliance and had been reaching out to the BJP. “These leaders feel neglected by their respective parties, citing lack of support and attention to constituency issues. They have expressed their concerns about the absence of constructive meetings to address local matters,” he said.

Responding to allegations of ‘Operation Lotus’ [alleged BJP bid to engineer defection through pressure tactics], Mr Bawankule said, “Investigative agencies are performing their duties independently. The claims of misuse of the ED and the CBI are the usual complaints by MVA leaders. However, those willing to join us in support of PM Modi’s vision of a developed India and under Devendra Fadnavis’ leadership are welcome.”

Asked about BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar’s recent remarks against veteran NCP-SP leader Sharad Pawar, the State BJP chief called them inappropriate and assured that the MLA would be warned by the party. Regarding Cabinet expansion, he said leaders of the three allies in Mahayuti, in consultation with Central leadership, would take a coordinated decision.

He criticised the MVA for creating a “fake narrative” about electronic voting machines (EVMs) to influence the upcoming local body elections. “Instead of blaming EVMs, MVA leaders should introspect where they fell short during the election. The Supreme Court has already dismissed their objections, stating that EVMs are not the issue. This repetitive drama won’t yield results,” he added.

“Patole (Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee chief) barely managed to win his seat. Instead of introspecting why people rejected its policies, the Congress continues to fumble. Their internal contradictions, such as senior Congress leader Anil Wadpalliwar opposing the ‘Ladki Bahin’ scheme in court, have also done harm to its image,” he said.

He said after 2019, the BJP accepted its shortcomings, returned to the people, worked across levels, and rebuilt the organisation. “The Opposition, however, continues with theatrics rather than self-analysis,” Mr Bawankule said.