Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday hinted that Shiv Sena chief and Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde might likely be the Mahayuti alliance’s CM face for the upcoming Maharashtra polls. However, he did not explicitly take his name. Shinde and Ajit Pawar were seated by his side at an event where they released a report card of the state government’s work, when Fadnavis said “our Chief Minister is sitting here,” challenging NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar to announce Maha Vikas Aghadi’s CM candidate.

“We don’t need to announce the chief minister’s face, our chief minister is sitting right here,” Fadnavis said. 

Challenging Pawar, he added: “The Maha Vikas Aghadi is not announcing the chief minister’s face because they don’t think their chief minister can come after the elections. I challenge Pawar Sahab to declare their face.”

The former CM, who is considered the BJP’s most prominent face in Maharashtra, stated that the seat-sharing discussions among the Mahayuti alliance were in the final stages.

Eknath Shinde also steered clear from addressing the issue directly, stating that the Maharashtra government’s two years of work and performance was what represented the alliance. Taking a dig at the opposition’s alliance,  Shinde said: “The MVA should announce their face as the leader of the opposition.”

Just like Mahayuti, the MVA, which comprises the NCP (SP), Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Congress, has also tried to avoid declaring their chief ministerial face publicly.

Earlier this week, former CM Uddhav Thackeray dodged the question about CM’s face saying that the MVA would only name its face after the Mahayuti announces its CM candidate.

During a press briefing in Mumbai on Sunday, Thackeray said: “Let Mahayuti announce their Chief Minister’s face first, then we will let you all know who our face is. Being in the government, Mahayuti should announce their face first.”

On several occasions, Sharad Pawar has stressed that MVA’s chief ministerial face would be decided based on which party wins the most seats in the Assembly elections.

‘We Should Get 8-10 Seats’: Ramdas Athawale

Meanwhile, Republican Party of India (Athawale) President Ramdas Athawale said that he has written to Fadnavis and Chandrashekhar Bawankule for 21 seats. He also stated that he wants a minister berth for his party when the Mahayuti forms a government in Maharashtra.

“I have written to Chandrashekhar Bawankule and Devendra Fadnavis demanding 21 seats. We should get 8-10 seats. Devendra Fadnavis has said that they will give some seats to the Republican Party. We have demanded that we should also get a minister berth when govt is formed. We will stay with Mahayuti. No matter how hard Maha Vikas Aghadi tries, Mahayuti is stronger in Maharashtra…”

#WATCH | On Maharashtra Assembly elections, President, Republican Party of India (Athawale), Dr.Ramdas Athawale says, “I have written to Chandrashekhar Bawankule and Devendra Fadnavis demanding 21 seats. We should get 8-10 seats. Devendra Fadnavis has said that they will give… pic.twitter.com/v7zB8mnsCL

— ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2024

Maharashtra will go to polls on November 20. Votes will be counted on November 23, along with that of Jharkhand.