When all went asleep yesterday in India, Maharashtra had a game playing of power silently. Since November 12, 2019, Maharashtra has President Rule in the state as two Hindutva parties fought for who will be on the throne and parted ways. In the assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, while the Shiv Sena won 56 seats. Opposition Congress won 44 seats, while the NCP won in 54 constituencies.
By the Wee hours yesterday, there was a final prediction that Uddhav Thackrey who has been playing role with the BJP for years in Maharastra politics as a younger brother all set to become the Maha CM. Ahmed Patel, Sharad Pawar and Sanjay Raut all were discussing and finalizing the things.
Senior BJP leader and Union minister Nitin Gadkari had termed the alliance among Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress as opportunistic. Gadkari on Friday said even if they formed the government in Maharashtra, it will not last beyond six to eight months.
“Opportunism is the base of their alliance. The three parties have become united with the only motto to keep the BJP out of power. I have doubts whether this government will be formed… Even if it is formed, it will not last beyond six to eight months,” Gadkari told PTI.
However, in a surprising move, BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis took oath as the chief minister of Maharashtra, while NCP’s Ajit Pawar took oath as the deputy CM of the state.
Although, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar on Saturday, 23 November said Ajit Pawar joining hands with Devendra Fadnavis is his ‘personal decision’ and doesn’t have his support, news agency ANI, quoting unnamed sources, reported that NCP chief Sharad Pawar was part of discussions for Devendra Fadnavis led Maharashtra Govt formation and that he had given his assent to Ajit Pawar.
In a nutshell, it was a night of destiny for Fadnavis and two ideologically different parties formed the government ultimately. Gadkari proved right with a different flavour.
