Devendra Fadnavis Set to Return as Maharashtra CM, Shinde and Ajit Pawar Likely Deputies

BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis is poised to become the Chief Minister of Maharashtra once again, with Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar expected to take on the roles of Deputy Chief Ministers. According to BJP insiders, the party’s central leadership has approved Fadnavis’s name, with alliance partners Shiv Sena (led by Shinde) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) of Pawar reportedly agreeing to the proposal. The BJP is likely to secure 21 ministerial berths, while Shiv Sena and NCP are set to receive 12 and 10 berths, respectively, with key portfolios such as Home, Finance, and Urban Development being negotiated.

Despite this, a senior Shiv Sena source stated there has been no official consultation on Fadnavis’s appointment as CM, and Shinde’s camp appears dissatisfied with the decision. However, sources indicate ongoing talks between the allies to finalize the power-sharing arrangement, including a meeting convened by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi to settle the Cabinet composition.

Fadnavis previously served as Maharashtra CM from 2014 to 2019 during a coalition with the undivided Shiv Sena. He briefly resumed the role in 2019 in a short-lived alliance with Ajit Pawar. This upcoming alliance marks a significant reshaping of the Mahayuti coalition, with the BJP aiming to balance its leadership ambitions with accommodating its partners’ demands.

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