BJP can form government without Shinde, then why is it trying to convince him?

New Delhi: It has been 11 days since the results of Maharashtra elections were declared. The people of Maharashtra gave more than three-fourth majority to Mahayuti but it is still not known who will become the CM of the state. It has been decided that the Chief Minister will be from the Bharatiya Janata Party. But neither has the BJP claimed to form the government nor has the Governor invited him. However, it is believed that the BJP has decided to make Devendra Fadnavis the Chief Minister. From the events so far, it seems that acting Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is becoming an obstacle in the formation of Mahayuti government in Maharashtra. This debate started about Shinde is not baseless either.

After a three-hour marathon meeting at the residence of Home Minister Amit Shah, all three leaders returned to Mumbai the same night. Since then, Shinde is making everyone wander around. Sometimes he says that he is ill, then suddenly appears and expresses faith in Amit Shah and Narendra Modi. He talks about becoming the CM of BJP. Then the statement comes that the public wants to see him as the CM. There can be no doubt that Eknath Shinde is doing all this for bargaining. He wants the Home Ministry, he wants lucrative departments and many more things. But it is not understood why BJP is giving him so much importance? BJP has almost the majority to form the government. Then if it looks so weak in the alliance, then tomorrow Ajit Pawar will also raise his head. Looking at all these things, the question arises that why is BJP looking so weak?

1. Is there no consensus on the name of Fadnavis?
Due to the name of the Chief Minister not being announced till now, the first doubt goes to the fact that whether the name of Devendra Fadnavis has not been finalized yet? Actually, BJP has such a history in the last few years that the name which is discussed the most is never finalized. However, the situation of Devendra Fadnavis in Maharashtra is completely different. The party cannot take the risk of appointing a new or weak leader in a big and important state like Maharashtra.

Fadnavis also has his past achievements and experience in his favour. But a section in the party is worried because of his Brahmin caste. Because the Maratha community has influence in Maharashtra. If Fadnavis becomes the CM, then BJP can plan to satisfy the OBC community by making Maratha leaders Shinde and Ajit Pawar deputy CMs. But both of them are not directly BJP leaders. Therefore, the opposition party will definitely accuse that BJP is a party of Baniyas and Brahmins. Because as soon as Maharashtra’s CM becomes a Brahmin, there will be the most Brahmin CMs in BJP-ruled states.

2. Winning the BMC elections is important
BMC, Asia’s richest municipal body with a budget of more than 52,000 crores in the last financial year, is richer than many states of the country. Elections have not been held here for the last 3 years. Therefore, a big argument that Shiv Sena has for retaining Eknath Shinde as CM is that at least let the BMC elections be held under his leadership. Shiv Sena UBT has been in control of BMC for the last 3 decades. It is clear that Shiv Sena UBT can be defeated in BMC elections only when the leadership of Mahayuti is in the hands of Eknath Shinde.

There are a total of 36 assembly seats in Mumbai. Out of these, 22 seats have been won by Mahayuti and 14 seats have gone to MVA. Out of 22 seats of Mahayuti, BJP has 15 seats (11 suburban and 4 island city). At the same time, all the 6 seats that have gone to Shiv Sena’s account are from suburban areas only. The 1 seat that NCP has won is also from suburban area. Shiv Sena (UBT) has got the maximum 10 seats in MVA. It has won 6 in suburban area and 4 in island city. Out of the 3 seats won by Congress, 1 is from suburban and 2 are from island city. It is clearly visible that if BMC has to win, then Eknath Shinde becomes necessary.

3. Maratha politics
Due to reservation movement, Marathas in Maharashtra were angry with BJP. Meanwhile, OBC vs Maratha conflict was also seen regarding Maratha reservation. Although this conflict was not seen on the streets, OBCs feel that their quota will be affected if Marathas get reservation. When the fight for Maratha vs OBC reservation was going on in the state, Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis took charge. Since, Shinde himself is a big Maratha face in the Mahayuti. He made efforts to end the dispute and as a result it was seen that the Maratha community voted heavily in support of the Mahayuti.

This is the reason why the Bharatiya Janata Party does not want to sideline Eknath Shinde completely. The politics of Maharashtra revolves around the Maratha community. Out of the 18 Chief Ministers in the state so far, 10 have been Marathas. Eknath Shinde’s name is also included in this. There are a total of 288 assembly and 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The Maratha community has a strong hold on more than 150 assembly seats and 25 Lok Sabha seats. Obviously it is not easy for BJP to move ahead by rejecting the demands of Eknath Shinde.

4. BJP wants to avoid Ajit Pawar’s bargaining
The problem before BJP is that if Eknath Shinde gets angry and leaves Mahayuti, then Ajit Pawar’s blackmailing can start. Because as soon as Shinde leaves Sena, Ajit Pawar will become necessary for BJP. Ajit Pawar is not in a position to bargain while being with Shinde. BJP can tolerate Shinde’s bargaining but as soon as Ajit Pawar has the status of becoming a kingmaker, BJP will become weak in taking big decisions. Secondly, BJP is also afraid of Ajit Pawar’s history. There has always been a state of doubt in BJP about Ajit Pawar. However, now Ajit Pawar has openly supported BJP’s CM.