Suspense over the new Maharashtra Chief Minister continued as the BJP remained firm on Devendra Fadnavis for the top post and ruled out a ‘Bihar model’ as suggested by some leaders of its Mahayuti ally Shiv Sena, who have been pushing their case for Eknath Shinde to return as the Chief Minister. Sources also said Eknath Shinde may not accept the deputy chief ministerial post.In Bihar, the NDA is in power where the JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar is the Chief Minister despite the BJP having more numbers in the state Assembly.
Asked about the suggestion of a Bihar-like situation in Maharashtra, BJP spokesperson Prem Shukla ruled out such a scenario, telling that the party had a stronger organisational base and leadership.
He said that the BJP had honoured a commitment that it made during campaigning in Bihar to make Nitish Kumar the Chief Minister. He argued that the party did not make such a commitment to Eknath Shinde continuing as the Chief Minister after the Maharashtra elections.
