EMERGING the single largest party with 132 seats out of 288, there’s a strong feeling in the BJP cadre that the party should stake claim for the Chief Minister’s post in Maharashtra with Devendra Fadnavis the obvious front runner.

The BJP’s tally, leaders say, has ensured its leadership role – its partners, Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde and NCP led by Ajit Pawar, have won 57 and 41 seats respectively.

However, there’s a section in the party leadership that prefers continuing with incumbent CM Eknath Shinde “for the time being.” Fadnavis could be brought to the national scene, these leaders say, suggesting his name as the party president to succeed J P Nadda.

According to a senior BJP leader, changing Shinde, after the alliance went to the polls with his face as CM, could go against the BJP’s “image” as a coalition partner. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always believed in ensuring that alliance partners trust the BJP despite it being the larger party. So we will think twice before we decide. The  BJP leadership will certainly not do anything to create mistrust or lose the goodwill of its partners in the NDA as we are a coalition government at the centre,” this leader said.

Sources also pointed out that the welfare schemes and measures taken by the Eknath Shinde government had “created goodwill” for the Mahayuti coalition. Also, Shinde campaigned extensively for the alliance – he held 75 public meetings across the state. His party tally, a leader said, crossed 56, that of the undivided Sena in 2019.

However, the fact is that during many closed-door meetings after the Lok Sabha election, the party leadership was of the view that it should strive to cross the 100-plus mark to ensure its own CM. Indeed, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had also indicated that these Assembly polls were to ensure Fadnavis’s return.

There is palpable concern in the Shiv Sena and NCP over this. “It’s true that the BJP is not in any desperate need for the support of any party to form the government as they have crossed 130 seat mark on their own but we hope that coalition dharma is followed and no one is neglected,” said a Shiv Sena leader who said he would “love to see Eknath Shinde as the CM.”

Said a leader from NCP: “We don’t have negotiation power but we feel that since we all fought together as an alliance and won, we stay together in the government as in the previous government.”

During the media interaction in Mumbai, Fadnavis kept the cards close: “The mandate is for the Mahayuti. We don’t see any dispute on the CM issue. It was decided that all the decisions related to CM post and government formation will be taken together by all three parties. Whatever decision emerges will be acceptable to all.”

Similar sentiments were echoed by Eknath Shinde: “We are happy with the trust reposed by people in Mahayuti. We will remain together and work for Maharashtra.” He further said, “Just as we contested the polls together, after a smooth discussion we will form a consensus and decide on the CM face.”

State BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said: “The alliance partners will be treated with respect and will get their due. We will not leave our alliance partners.”

Asserting the party’s leadership role, senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar said, “We sought the mandate to accomplish the larger goal of Viksit Bharat 2047. To achieve this target role of Viksit Maharashtra was important.”

Buoyed by the electoral success, Ajit Pawar, who was fighting a battle for survival and identity against his estranged uncle and NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar, heaved a huge sigh of relief and indicated his party will play an important role in government composition.

“Our priority is to ensure a stable government in Maharashtra. All decisions regarding formation of government will be taken before November 26,” he said. Many in his tent pitch for him as CM too.

A senior Shiv Sena leader requesting anonymity said, “Ideally, we would like to have Eknath Shinde continue as the CM. We are not ruling out anything at this moment. We have seen in Bihar that the BJP is the largest party but it still conceded the CM’s post to Nitish Kumar of JD(U).”

In the NCP tent, there are voices for Ajit Pawar as CM as well. What is clear to both Sena and NCP leaders is that the final decision will rest with the BJP’s central leadership.