Amid the ongoing stalemate over the allocation of cabinet portfolios in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Thursday. This comes nearly three weeks after the Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, secured a majority in the Maharashtra Assembly elections.
The meeting follows high-level discussions on Wednesday night, where Fadnavis and his deputy Ajit Pawar met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda to address unresolved issues regarding cabinet distribution. However, Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, who had pushed for a significant role in the cabinet, notably refrained from joining the Delhi discussions, further fueling speculation about intra-alliance friction.
Key departments, including home and revenue, are expected to remain with the BJP. While Shinde had sought control of the home department, he has reportedly been offered urban development, while the finance portfolio is set to go to the NCP. BJP leaders have indicated that if the Shiv Sena and NCP demand additional positions, they may be assigned less influential departments.
The distribution of power has been contentious, with the Sena initially arguing that the election victory was achieved under Shinde’s leadership and that he should retain the Chief Minister’s post. However, the BJP, leveraging its strength and the NCP’s support, insisted on Fadnavis leading the government. Despite public assurances by Shinde that he would not hinder the government formation process, his absence from the capital has raised eyebrows in political circles.
The Mahayuti alliance’s internal struggles underscore the challenges of coalition politics in Maharashtra, where balancing power among three major partners has delayed governance decisions. With key portfolios still in limbo, the focus remains on whether central BJP leaders can broker a resolution to ensure a functional cabinet.
