Nagpur: cast their votes at a polling station during the Maharashtra Assembly elections, in Nagpur, Maharashtra, Wednesday.
Credit: PTI Photo
Mumbai: With counting day right around the corner, the two major parties in the fray have laid claim to the chief ministerial position in Maharashtra. In the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, parties eyeing the top position hope to attain at least 145 seats to form the government.
The leaders of the Maha Yuti claimed that they are in a comfortable position to form the government and would gain way beyond majority riding on schemes like Majhi Ladkhi Bahin Yojana.
Replying to a query about the post of chief minister, Fadnavis, who is now the deputy chief minister said that the three constituents will sit together and take a call.
Shinde, who is currently the chief minister and Ajit Pawar, who is an aspirant are all interested in the top job.
State BJP president Chandrashekar Bawankule said, “The BJP workers want Fadnavis to be the chief minister similarly the Shiv Sena feels it should be Shinde or for that matter NCP workers want Ajit Pawar as chief minister. Once the results are out the BJP high command and the leadership of the other parties would take a call.”
Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat said that they feel Shinde should be the chief minister.
Meanwhile, Fadnavis said, “The increase in the voter turnout would benefit the BJP and our partners. The percentage of voting increased due to pro-incumbency and the feeling of affinity that voters have for the government. Also, it cannot be ignored that the rise in the turnout of women voters was possibly due to the Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana.”
On the other hand, the Maha Vikas Aghadi felt that they would cross 160 seats.
Congress general secretary Ramesh Chennithala held a meeting and spoke to leaders of the allies on Friday.
Meanwhile, Congress Legislature Party leader Balasaheb Thorat and state NCP president Jayant Patil are reaching out to the respective party rebels.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut claimed that the MVA would get 160 to 165 seats.
"We along with our allies, including smaller parties like the PWP, Samajwadi Party, the Left parties are crossing the majority mark. There will be a stable government in the state. I can say it confidently," Raut said.
On suggestions that state Congress president Nana Patole’s should lead the government, Raut said, “The Congress high command has said that if he is becoming the chief minister, then Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi should announce it.
"I will not accept this, and no one else will accept this. We will sit together and decide if Nana Patole has said this and whether Nana Patole has the Congress high command's backing. ”
Assembly Elections 2024 | The Maharashtra Assembly polls will take place against the backdrop of a fractured political landscape in the western state where the Shiv Sena and NCP will be going up against the Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar factions, even as the BJP and Congress try to make their mark. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM faces a new challenge after Hemant Soren's recent arrest and Champai, a longstanding party member, joining the BJP. The Haryana election resulted in a shock loss for Congress, which was looking to galvanize on the Lok Sabha poll performance, while J&K also saw the grand old party eventually stepping away from the cabinet, with Omar Abdullah's JKNC forming government. It remains to be seen if the upcoming polls help BJP cement its position further or provide a fillip to I.N.D.I.A. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.
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