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The grand alliance comprising BJP, NCP and Shiv Sena had won 235 seats in the 288-member House in the November 2024 assembly elections, in what its leaders called a “clear and strong mandate for development politics”. Devendra Fadnavis took oath as Chief Minister on December 5, although questions were being raised regarding the delay in government formation.
The delay has led to speculation over whether Eknath Shinde will get a second chance to become CM or not, as the Shiv Sena leader is reluctant to be part of the government if he does not get the top post. The swearing-in of ministers took place on 15 December, ten days after Fadnavis took oath, and on the eve of the first (winter) session of the new assembly in Nagpur.
Its first challenge was the fallout of the murder of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh on December 9, as the opposition was up in arms after the arrest of key accused Valmik Karad, a close aide of NCP minister Dhananjay Munde. Under sustained pressure, and amid national outrage over the video showing Deshmukh being tortured, Munde quit the cabinet in March this year, citing health reasons.
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Leaders of the ruling coalition have regularly claimed that the Fadnavis government has worked with “speed, transparency and coordination” and has “reset the pace of infrastructure creation”, citing metro rail projects in Mumbai, Pune and Thane, the coastal road, the Trans Harbor Link and the mega Wadhawan port.
A leader of the ruling coalition said the alliance has served to position Maharashtra as India’s leading investment destination at a time when global competition for capital is intense.
While the Mahayuti has repeatedly tried to underline its unity, with the Chief Minister and his representatives saying the government “worked with complete coordination despite speculations”, political observers said managing the three-party alliance with different constituencies and leadership centers remains a challenge.
There were allegations of corruption and misconduct against some Shiv Sena ministers and MLAs, while the Pune land deal involving a company in which Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s son Parth was a partner caused further damage to the opposition. The sale deed had to be cancelled, and an FIR was registered, although opposition parties criticized the absence of Parth’s name in it.
The sale of Jain Trust property in Pune to a developer has brought Union Minister Muralidhar Mohol under the opposition’s radar, although he denied any connection with the matter. This deal was also canceled after the developer backed out amid community opposition.
The opposition also criticized the Fadnavis government for not announcing farm loan waiver and not increasing the monthly financial assistance for the beneficiaries of the Ladki Bahin Scheme, despite promising so during the assembly election campaign.
Activist Manoj Jarange’s hunger strike in South Mumbai in the last week of August resulted in the state government accepting several of his demands for issuing Kunbi caste certificates, which would enable the Maratha community to avail the benefits of quota under the OBC section.
However, this gave rise to strong opposition from the Other Backward Classes, leading the government to attempt a delicate balancing act by setting up a Cabinet sub-committee, as it had done for the Maratha quota.
Amid speculations of internal strife, all three ruling parties announced that the work was progressing unitedly and without any tension. However, last month, in the backdrop of state BJP president Ravindra Chavan inducting Shinde-led party functionaries from Kalyan-Dombivli and other deputy CM strongholds, Shiv Sena ministers had skipped the cabinet meeting.
As the government enters its second year, leaders said the focus will be on completing large-scale infrastructure, deepening rural access and enhancing ease of doing business.
Meanwhile, the opposition has vowed a thorough investigation, setting the stage for a politically active year in Maharashtra.