Maharashtra’s Mahayuti alliance government, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), has successfully navigated the initial stages of power, including cabinet portfolio allocation. State BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule recently clarified that there was no central interference or significant friction among the alliance partners during this process. He emphasized that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah granted complete autonomy to the Maharashtra leadership to resolve internal matters, dismissing speculation of a Delhi intervention to settle differences over ministerial positions. Instead, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, along with senior NCP leader Sunil Tatkare and Mr. Bawankule, handled the portfolio allocations within Maharashtra. The central government’s involvement was limited to policy decisions, Bawankule stated. The allocation process, which took over 22 days, focused on selecting high-performing leaders capable of efficient governance and swift execution of the alliance’s 100-day manifesto. Each party independently decided on its ministerial candidates, refuting suggestions of BJP interference. Mr. Bawankule attributed the duration to the need for mutual understanding among the alliance partners, clarifying that it wasn’t a delay. He explained that negotiations focused on ensuring each party’s representation and maintaining respect while prioritizing reasonable demands. The BJP’s success in the Maharashtra Assembly elections is attributed to an improved booth-level strategy, addressing shortcomings in the preceding Lok Sabha elections. A sophisticated four-tiered booth categorization system (A, B, C, D, based on vote share) allowed for targeted efforts to increase voter turnout in key areas. The party’s leadership emphasizes the importance of lessons learned from previous setbacks, using effective campaign strategies and a focus on social harmony to achieve electoral victory. Moreover, effective vote transfer strategies and coordination between alliance partners played a vital role. The BJP’s significant gains in the assembly elections, contrasted with their performance in the Lok Sabha elections, highlight the success of this targeted campaign. This success is also attributed to the implementation of pro-farmer and pro-women welfare schemes and active efforts to reconcile tensions between OBCs and Maratha communities. The seamless coordination demonstrated by the Mahayuti alliance, evidenced by inter-party candidate transfers, conveyed a clear message of unity to voters. Mr. Bawankule emphasized the contributions of senior party leaders, including Amit Shah, whose guidance and meetings played a significant role in galvanizing party workers across all 288 constituencies. The successful portfolio allocation demonstrates a cooperative spirit and effective governance within the newly formed coalition government. Overall, the successful governance transition showcases the effectiveness of coalition politics when combined with a clear strategy, strong leadership, and a focus on grassroots mobilization and welfare schemes.
No Central Interference in Maharashtra Cabinet Allocation, Says BJP Chief
