Mahayuti CM after polls

Home Minister Amit Shah ends all CM race speculations, leaves choice to Mahayuti post-polls

- Ravikiran Deshmukh

In a significant announcement that could redefine Maharashtra's political landscape, Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated on Sunday that the Mahayuti coalition will decide its Chief Minister after the upcoming state assembly elections on November 20. The statement, made during the BJP's manifesto release event, put at rest speculations that had been swirling around Devendra Fadnavis, the Deputy Chief Minister, and Eknath Shinde, the current Chief Minister leading the alliance government.

Amit Shah's remark that "Mahayuti leaders will decide on the CM face after the assembly polls" not only left the chief ministerial seat up for grabs but also fired a warning shot at opposition heavyweight Sharad Pawar, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo. Shah's assertion that the coalition would deny Pawar any chance to influence the next CM's choice underscored the BJP's intent to maintain control over the alliance's top post.