Having bagged 132 seats in a 288-member Vidhan Sabha, the BJP became the largest political party in the state, just 13 seats short of securing a majority of its own. The party has broken its own record made in 2014 when it had won 122 seats. Its allies in Mahayuti – Shiv Sena won only 57 seats and NCP 41 seats. Such a result brought with it a test for the BJP and its leadership – a test of coalition morality, the outcome of which may impact the party’s standing and reliability among its allies in NDA across the country.

As the largest political party in the state the BJP leadership has been under pressure from the state BJP rank and file to have their own chief minister, but the morality of the coalition dharma has exerted extreme mental pressure on the BJP leadership to accept the Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde as the chief minister. To be BJP’s own chief minister or not to be is the question, answer of this is yet to be found, and the suspense over the chief ministerial candidate continues.

Shiv Sena wants that its leader Eknath Shinde, who has been the chief minister of the state, must be accepted as chief minister by the BJP leadership, as the coalition morality demands. The party and its leadership must not be humiliated by removing him from the post only because the BJP is the biggest party in the state.

The problem before the BJP is that if the party removes Shinde from the chief minister post and bring BJP’s leader in his place, say Devendra Fadnavis, whose name is in the forefront of the race of chief-ministership, Shiv Sena rank and file may create a situation in the state that will be difficult to govern smoothly, though in that case BJP rank and file would become a happier lot.

And if, BJP leadership does not name it own leader as chief minister, party rank and file may feel demoralised in front to its junior ally Shiv Sena and that may impact the BJP activists’ performance on the ground. Then there is RSS leadership, that had made and implemented election campaign strategy for the BJP which brought such a wonderful win for the party.. RSS leadership wants its nominee, preferably Devendra Fadnavis, as chief minister, on the ground that the BJP is the largest political party in the state.

MLA’s in Shinde camp are pushing for their leader Shinde to continue as chief minister, as it was under his leadership, and his welfare schemes that led to the overwhelming victory of Mahayuti. BJP leaders in general on the other hand extended support for Devendra Fadnavis as new chief minister.

Shiv Sena leader Deepak Kesarkar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah's final decision will be acceptable to all.

Negotiations are still going on for share of power among the Mahayuti allies. Shiv Sena is likely to get up to 12 ministerial berths including some key portfolios while NCP led by Ajit Pawar could get about 10 berths. BJP may take 21 ministerial berths for itself. However, the negotiators are still to reach any agreement on chief ministerial posts and the candidates, though it would remain either with BJP or Shiv Sena. There is no disagreement in keeping two Deputy Chief Ministers from two parties – other than the party who takes the chief minister’s post. Suspense continues. (IPA Service)