In the lead-up to the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has openly expressed his ambition to become the state's Chief Minister.
Speaking after performing a puja at Pune’s renowned Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati temple, Pawar acknowledged his desire for the top position while stressing the importance of securing a majority in the 288-member state Assembly.
"Everyone wants their leader to be the Chief Minister. I, too, have that wish, but not all desires are fulfilled," Pawar remarked, adding that achieving the halfway mark of 145 seats is crucial to realizing this goal. He credited Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar for granting citizens the right to vote, highlighting that the decision ultimately rests with the electorate.
However, Pawar also reaffirmed his support for the current MahaYuti (grand coalition) government, which includes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shinde faction of Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar's faction of NCP, stating that they would contest the upcoming election under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. "Once we win, the coalition partners will jointly decide who will lead," he added.
While some BJP leaders are rallying for Devendra Fadnavis to return as Chief Minister, Shiv Sena figures are advocating for Shinde's continued leadership.
At the same time, posters supporting Ajit Pawar as a potential Chief Minister have surfaced in parts of Maharashtra.
Despite these differing opinions, Deputy Chief Minister Fadnavis clarified that the BJP's Parliamentary Board, alongside other National Democratic Alliance leaders, will make the final decision on the Chief Minister's post after the elections, and this decision will be respected by all coalition partners.
Fadnavis also emphasized that there are no internal conflicts within the MahaYuti regarding this matter.