"I Am the Ocean, I Will Return": Devendra Fadnavis to Once Again Become Maharashtra CM, Shinde Not to Be Deputy CM
After the Mahayuti alliance's resounding win in Maharashtra, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis is poised to reclaim the Chief Minister’s seat. The victory ends Fadnavis's stint as Deputy CM under Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde, who is likely to be inducted into the central cabinet. This marks a significant political reshuffle, with the BJP consolidating its dominance in Maharashtra.
Five years after his memorable Assembly speech, "I am the ocean, I will return," Devendra Fadnavis is poised to take over again as Maharashtra Chief Minister. A merger of the overwhelming win by Mahayuti in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, BJP's dominance has automatically placed Fadnavis at the top. Indeed, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had left an election campaign hint when he said Fadnavis was the first choice for CM.
Fadnavis's Road to CM
Although Fadnavis led the state from 2014 to 2019, he could not have easy sailing in 2019 as disputation with Shiv Sena over the post of CM led to a split in the alliance. However, when the BJP regained power in 2022 following Shiv Sena's split, he had to compromise on the Deputy CM post to make the government stable. Meanwhile, it is decisive that with this triumph, Fadnavis will remain the CM of Maharashtra for the third time.
मेरा पानी उतरता देख, मेरे किनारे पर घर मत बसा लेना. मैं समंदर हूं, लौटकर वापस आऊंगा...
— Abhinav Pandey (@Abhinav_Pan) November 23, 2024
समंदर जीत की ‘सुनामी’ लेकर लौटा है pic.twitter.com/rxxXIOk9N2
Eknath Shinde's Future Position
Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, the former Chief Minister in the post-verdict alliance of BJP-Shiv Sena, is unlikely to remain in that position. Speculations suggest that he will be made part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet, marking a big turnaround in his political career.
A decisive Win
The Mahayuti alliance secured more than 220 seats, while the BJP secured more than 125, clearly establishing a mandate. To further complement this, the RSS has also "endorsed" Fadnavis for the CM position. This only adds to his strength as the leader of the state.
This election is a landmark chapter in Maharashtra's political landscape, with Fadnavis regaining his CM position and the BJP solidifying its control over the state.
