If things work out as per the formula being set up, Maharashtra will soon get its first Thackeray CM, the one who never fought mainstream elections. Uddhav Thackeray, Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray’s son, may be propped up as Maharashtra chief minister for a term of five years and NCP and Congress may have their deputy chief ministers each.
Reports suggest that it will be Uddhav and not his YouTube sensation son and MLA Aadtiya Thackeray who might be the Shiv Sena CM Sanjay Raut has been fighting tooth nail and his own arteries for. When the Shiv Sena’s obsession with having its own leader as Maharashtra chief minister emerged, there were rumours that it was all being done in ‘putramoh’ (blind love for son), in this case Aaditya. Such reports had also emerged when Bal Thackeray gave the reins of Shiv Sena in Uddhav’s hands instead of his nephew Raj Thackeray. People had said that Bal Thackeray’s ‘putramoh’ led to split in power of Shiv Sena as Raj Thackeray started his own political outfit Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.
Reports that Shiv Sena will repeat history of self-destruction emerged when ahead of elections, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said they would ensure Aaditya is installed at the 6th floor of the Mantralaya, which houses the chief minister’s office. With reports emerging that it may not really Aaditya but Uddhav who may get to be the first Thackeray chief minister of Maharashtra, it appears it was more of self-love.
Read: A tale of two Sanjays: The Maharashtra conundrum
While Aaditya’s name had also made rounds as possible CM candidate, perhaps it would have been ‘inappropriate’ to serve a CM who is a first time MLA when other veteran leaders like Ajit Pawar NCP may be part of the cabinet.
As the Indian Express report suggests the 42 portfolios of various ministries will be shared by the three parties according to the strength of their MLAs. The Shiv Sena has 56, NCP has 54 and Congress has 44 MLAs leaving them with 15, 14 and 13 portfolios respectively. Congress leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan may be the Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly.
Meanwhile, the NCP has officially remained non-committal on the alliance with Shiv Sena as yet. After meeting Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi in national capital on Monday, Pawar had said that they did not discuss Shiv Sena in the meeting. Meanwhile, we can only wait and watch as Maharashtra government deadlock inches towards completion of one month.
