Race for Maharashtra chief minister post gains momentum in BJP

Mangalore Today News Network

Mumbai, October 19, 2014:  The race for chief minister’s post is gaining momentum in Maharashtra after exit polls indicated a thumping victory for the BJP in the Assembly elections. Several exit polls had predicted that the BJP would emerge as the single largest party and may fall short by a slim margin to form the new government in the state.

The BJP, according to insiders, had not declared its CM nominee in a bid to avoid a backlash during the elections. However, names of state party chief Devendra Fadnavis, senior leader Eknath Khadse and Union minister Nitin Gadkari are doing the rounds.

The other people who are in the race for the CM’s post are Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Council Vinod Tawde and late Gopinath Munde’s daughter Pankaja Munde-Palve. Sources said former state BJP president Sudhir Mungantiwar was also in the race. Mungantiwar belongs to Chandrapur in the Vidarbha region. The NCP leader could be chosen to lead a coalition, if the BJP finds itself 25-30 seats short of a majority and decides to approach the NCP for support.

Political grapevine has it that Fadnavis could be preferred for the post because of his "clean image" and close proximity with the RSS. Fadnavis, a lawyer by profession, has also been credited for his performance in the Assembly as a legislator during past three terms. During a poll rally, PM Narendra Modi had heaped praises on the senior BJP leader in the state, saying he is "Nagpur’s gift to Maharashtra".

Another top contender is Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. Gadkari’s experience of being the PWD minister during the previous Sena-BJP regime would help him score more brownie points.

Khadse (62), a strong leader of the Leva-Patil community, also could make it to the top post as he had handled the finance and irrigation ministries during the Sena-BJP regime from 1999 to ’96. Khadse had also voiced that anybody from his region - north-Maharashtra - had never got the CM’s post.

Tawde - a Maratha leader - has been banking on his communication skills. However, since he does not have the mass base, his chances are very slim. After the death of Gopinath Munde, daughter Pankaja Munde-Palve was included in the core committee of the state BJP. Her name has also been widely discussed for the top job.

Courtesy: Indiatoday