Syed Khalique Ahmed|India Tomorrow
NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 11—After BJP on Sunday refusing to stake claim to form the government and Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut immediately declaring that Maharashtra would have a Shiv Sena Chief Minister “at any cost”, speculations have begun who would be Shiv Sena’s Chief Minister in the event of the party forming a government in the state. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has already indicated to support the Shiv Sena with a view to keeping the BJP out of power in this Western India state. NCP supremo Sharad Pawar has also held a meeting with Sonia Gandhi on the issue of supporting the Shiva Sena in the event of any split in the post-poll alliance between Shiv Sena and BJP. Sonia Gandhi is reported to have reluctantly agreed to Pawar’s proposal to support Shiv Sena.
However, the Shiv Sena is not divulging who would be the chief minister and keeping its card close to its chest. The party is keeping it a top secret though in normal course Shiv Sena’s newly elected Legislature Party Leader Eknath Shinde should become the Chief Minister if Shiv Sena forms the government.
But indications from the Shiv Sena are that Chief Minister would be from the Thackeray family itself. Soon after the declarations of the election results when there was demand of rotating the post of chief minister for two and a half years between the Shiv Sena and BJP, posters had appeared near `Matoshri’, Thackeray family’s official residence, demanding that Aditya Thackeray, 29-year-old son of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, be the Sena’s chief ministerial candidate.
But after the talks between Shiv sena and BJP broke down and NCP and Congress offering their support to Shiv sena to form the government, new posters appeared on Sunday evening around `Matoshri`, suggesting that Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray should become the Chief Minister.
Shiv Sena sources say that Aditya, who is too young, may not be acceptable to senior Shiv Sena, NCP leaders and Congress leaders.. Moreover, Aditya has no experience of running the government or even a ministry. The elections from Mumbai’s Worli assembly constituency which Aditya won in October 2019, was his maiden election. Aditya is currently president of the Yuva Sena, youth wing of the Shiv Sena.
Uddhav Thackeray is also inexperienced but by virtue of being Shiv Sena chief, sources say that he would not only be acceptable but welcomed by all if he becomes the Chief Minister.
Shiv Sena having 56 seats can easily form the government, with the support of NCP having 54 seats and Congress 44 in a House of 289. The BJP has won 105 seats. The rest are from smaller parties and Independents. One member is nominated.
