State minister and Shiv Sena leader Deepak Kesarkar rejected Chandrashekar Bawankule’s assertion that Devendra Fadnavis might succeed to the position of Chief Minister in Maharashtra. Bawankule’s comments, according to Kesarkar, shouldn’t be taken seriously because Fadnavis and the BJP high command frequently communicate. In addition, Fadnavis himself has declared that Eknath Shinde will represent the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena coalition as chief minister in the next Assembly elections.
Kesarkar further emphasised that during their visits to Maharashtra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah showed their support for Shinde. He emphasised that Shinde is the preferred candidate and shot down rumours that Fadnavis would succeed Shinde.
In a prior interview with a local media source, Bawankule claimed that BJP members wanted Fadnavis to take over as chief minister once more. Kesarkar’s declaration, however, puts a stop to any speculation about Fadnavis’ prospective selection as Chief Minister.
Devendra Fadnavis led Maharashtra’s government as chief minister from 2014 to 2019 under the BJP-Shiv Sena coalition, which has been in power there since 2014. The alliance won the majority of seats in the 2019 Assembly elections, and Fadnavis was re-elected as chief minister. However, Fadnavis’s time in office was brief because the alliance disintegrated in 2019 and he was forced to step down as chief minister.
With the selection of Eknath Shinde as the coalition’s chief ministerial candidate in 2021, the alliance seems to be in good shape once more. It is still unclear if the BJP-Shiv Sena coalition can maintain control of Maharashtra and whether Shinde will take over as chief minister as the state prepares for the forthcoming Assembly elections.