BJP’s Fadnavis set to become Maharashtra Chief Minister for third term

After days of intense speculation, Devendra Fadnavis was confirmed as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra during a BJP meeting on Wednesday. The decision was formalised after approval from newly elected legislators, ending uncertainty surrounding the post.

Fadnavis, an MLA from Nagpur South West, will serve his third term as Chief Minister, having previously held the position from 2014 to 2019 and briefly afterwards for 80 hours. He also served as Deputy Chief Minister in the previous government.

Despite the BJP’s dominance in the recently concluded assembly elections, where it won 132 seats, the announcement was delayed due to resistance from outgoing Chief Minister Eknath Shinde of the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction). Shinde, who led the state for two and a half years as part of the Mahayuti coalition, reportedly opposed Fadnavis’s appointment, citing his preference for a non-Brahmin, Maratha candidate, The Wire reported.

Shinde’s faction secured 57 seats, while the coalition's third ally, Ajit Pawar’s NCP, won 41. Shinde’s dissatisfaction reportedly stemmed from caste and regional considerations, as well as demands for key portfolios in the new government. Although Shinde denied media reports of discontent, his absence from meetings and return to Satara amid ill health added to the uncertainty.

The BJP pushed forward by planning a swearing-in ceremony at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on December 5, a move interpreted as an effort to finalise the leadership decision. Fadnavis, a seasoned leader and former mayor of Nagpur, has consistently been a key figure in Maharashtra politics, with five consecutive MLA terms to his credit.