No Desire for Ministerial Post, Says Shrikant Shinde Amid Government Formation Delay

 Speculations of Deputy CM Role Denied by Shrikant Shinde Amid Mahayuti Government Formation Delay

Amid the ongoing delay in forming the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra, Shrikant Shinde, MP from the Kalyan Lok Sabha constituency and son of caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has categorically denied rumors regarding his potential appointment as Deputy Chief Minister. On Monday, December 2, 2024, Shrikant Shinde dismissed the reports as “baseless and unfounded” in a post shared on social media platform X.

In his statement, Mr. Shinde emphasized his commitment to serving his party and constituents, reiterating that he had previously declined an opportunity to become a minister in the central government after the Lok Sabha elections to focus on party organization. "I have no desire for any position in the government. I am not part of any race for a ministerial post in the state government. My priority remains my work for the Shiv Sena and my Lok Sabha constituency," he clarified.

The rumors intensified following Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s brief rest at his native village due to health concerns. Addressing this, Shrikant Shinde urged media outlets to prioritize accuracy in their reporting. “We understand the enthusiasm and competition of the media, but I request them not to stray from the truth. I hope these baseless discussions about me will now come to an end,” he added.

Developments in Maharashtra’s Leadership Discussions

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced his readiness to support the BJP leadership’s decision on the Maharashtra Chief Ministerial position. The Mahayuti alliance partners, including the BJP, Shiv Sena, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), continued their deliberations. The BJP has scheduled the swearing-in ceremony for Thursday, December 5, 2024, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to attend.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, representing the NCP faction allied with the Mahayuti, earlier stated that the next Maharashtra Chief Minister would come from the BJP, with two deputy chief ministers representing the NCP and Shiv Sena. Notably, senior BJP leaders confirmed on Sunday, December 1, 2024, that Devendra Fadnavis had been finalized as the BJP’s Chief Ministerial candidate.

This period of negotiation highlights the complexities of coalition politics, as allies work to balance representation and leadership roles within the Mahayuti alliance.