Delay in govt formation ‘insult’ to Maharashtra: Aaditya Thackeray

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Sunday expressed strong criticism regarding the Mahayuti alliance's failure to appoint a chief minister and form a government more than a week after the results of the Maharashtra assembly elections were announced.

He called this delay an "insult" to the people of Maharashtra, underscoring the frustration over the political impasse. Thackeray also questioned why President's Rule had not been imposed in the state, highlighting the lack of clarity and action from the political leadership.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Raosaheb Danve responded by asserting that the name of Maharashtra's new chief minister has been decided, though official confirmation is awaited from the senior leadership of the party.

While Danve refrained from directly naming the candidate, he hinted that the people of Maharashtra already know who the next CM will be, signalling the BJP's anticipation of an imminent announcement.

The oath-taking ceremony of the new Mahayuti government in Maharashtra will take place on 5 December evening at the Azad Maidan in south Mumbai and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend it, state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule said on Saturday.

In a post on X, Thackeray also asked why President's Rule has not yet been enforced in the state. Targeting the BJP, which is the largest constituent of the Mahayuti, Thackeray claimed that to declare the swearing-in date unilaterally without even staking claim to form government is "pure anarchy".

The Mahayuti alliance of the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP retained power with a landslide victory in the assembly elections, the results of which were announced on 23 November.

There has been no announcement yet on who would be the chief minister. Devendra Fadnavis, who has been chief minister twice and was deputy CM in the last Eknath Shinde-led government, was the frontrunner for the post, according to BJP sources.

Maharashtra's caretaker chief minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde headed to his native village Dare in Satara district on Friday, amid speculation that he was not happy with the way the new state government was shaping up.

Hitting out at the Mahayuti, Thackeray in his post said, "To not be able to decide on a chief minister, and form government, for more than a week after result day, is not just an insult to Maharashtra (for taking our state so lightly) but also to the assistance provided by their dearest Election Commission," Thackeray said.

It seems that rules only apply to the opposition parties, and not for some "special ones", the Shiv Sena (UBT) legislature party leader added. "To declare the swearing in date, unilaterally, without even staking claim to form government and show numbers to the hon'ble governor, is pure anarchy. And in all this, the caretaker CM is on a mini vacation, as per the phase of the moon, as we've regularly observed earlier too."

Meanwhile, Maharashtra seems like no priority for those who could form government. They're enjoying their Delhi trips, he said sarcastically. "Presidential rule? Shouldn’t it have been in place by now? Wouldn’t it have been, had the opposition had the numbers, with a decision pending?" asked the Sena (UBT) leader, who retained his Worli seat in Mumbai in the recently-concluded Assembly polls.

With PTI inputs