As the political unrest in Maharashtra continues, the state BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule suggested making Devendra Fadnavis the Chief Minister of Maharashtra in a recent interview with ABP News. Although Bawankule acknowledged the BJP workers' desire to see Fadnavis as the Chief Minister, he stated that Eknath Shinde currently holds that position and serves as the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance's leader.
In the meantime, posters have emerged in Nagpur proclaiming Fadnavis to be the "future CM". Fadnavis is currently the Deputy CM of Maharashtra, and Bawankule's statement was made amidst NCP leader Ajit Pawar expressing his desire to become the chief minister.
The speculations appeared to be strengthening after Pawar failed to show up at a recent NCP meeting being held in Mumbai. Instead, he was present at another event where he reportedly praised PM Narendra Modi. Some claimed that Pawar may ally with the BJP with some MLAs, but he has dismissed such speculations.
Pawar skipped the meeting of his party’s Mumbai unit on April 21, which raised eyebrows in political circles amid the ongoing speculation about his next political move. However, he dismissed rumours, saying that he could not be present during the meet as he had to attend some other event.
Bawankule also defended Ajit Pawar, stating that MVA leaders are defaming him, and his own people are weakening his leadership.
Regarding Eknath Shinde's whereabouts, Chandrashekhar Bawankule clarified that Shinde has not gone on leave. "He has just gone to his village with his family and is fully available over the phone," he said.
Bawankule also claimed that Uddhav Thackeray wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his term as the CM, stating that the Barsu project should have taken place. "Now he is engaging in dirty politics. If there are any queries, the government will surely listen to them," Bawankule said.
On Sunday, Uddhav Thackeray's close aide and MP Sanjay Raut claimed that the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government's "death warrant" has been issued and it will fall in the next 15-20 days. However, the ruling Shiv Sena (led by Shinde) dismissed Raut as a fake astrologer, asserting that many Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) officials make such "predictions" but they have failed.