Sanjay Raut and Sharad Pawar’s New Claims on Maharashtra CM Post
20.05.2024: As the Lok Sabha polling in Maharashtra wraps up, opposition leaders from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) are making new revelations about past wrangling over the Chief Minister’s post. Notably, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut have shared their insights.
Opposition to Eknath Shinde in 2019
Sanjay Raut recently claimed that top leaders from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), now part of the Mahayuti coalition government under CM Eknath Shinde, objected to Shinde’s potential appointment as CM in 2019. Raut noted that when the undivided Shiv Sena, led by Uddhav Thackeray, aligned with the Congress and NCP, several leaders, including Ajit Pawar and Dilip Walse-Patil, opposed Shinde’s candidacy, citing his inexperience.
BJP’s Stance on Shinde’s Appointment
Raut also revealed that after the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, despite the Shiv Sena and BJP’s victory, BJP leaders like Devendra Fadnavis opposed Shinde’s appointment as CM. This internal discord eventually led to the Shiv Sena severing ties with the BJP, forming the MVA coalition with the Congress and NCP, and resulting in Uddhav Thackeray becoming CM.
Sharad Pawar’s 2004 Disclosure
In a recent interview, Sharad Pawar claimed that his NCP would have split in 2004 if Chhagan Bhujbal had been made Chief Minister. Bhujbal, now a cabinet minister in the Mahayuti government, refuted Pawar’s claims, stating that even the Congress wanted him as CM, but Pawar had blocked it.
Bhujbal’s 2004 Ambitions
Speaking in Nashik, Bhujbal expressed confidence that he would have become CM in 2004, revealing that several top Congress leaders had promised to back him. However, Sharad Pawar’s decision to support the Congress’s Vilasrao Deshmukh ultimately dashed his hopes.
The MVA Formation and Shinde’s Revolt
The formation of the MVA coalition and subsequent internal conflicts have significantly shaped Maharashtra’s political landscape. Eknath Shinde’s revolt against Uddhav Thackeray in June 2022 led to the collapse of the MVA government and the establishment of the current Mahayuti coalition, with Shinde as CM.
These new claims by Sanjay Raut and Sharad Pawar highlight the complex and often contentious history of Maharashtra’s political leadership. As the state’s political dynamics continue to evolve, these revelations offer a deeper understanding of the challenges and power struggles that have shaped its governance.