Maharashtra assembly elections 2024: Mahayuti allies to decide on CM face after polls, says Amit Shah

Amit Shah. Pic/PTI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said the ruling Mahayuti in Maharashtra will retain power with full majority and a decision on who will be the chief minister will be taken by the alliance partners after the Maharashtra assembly elections 2024, reported news agency PTI.

Talking to reporters after unveiling the BJP's manifesto for the Maharashtra assembly elections 2024, Shah expressed confidence that the Mahayuti will win the polls.

All the three alliance partners - BJP, Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's NCP - have released their manifestos and after the Maharashtra assembly elections 2024, a committee of ministers from the three parties will be formed to prioritise the assurances given, Shah said, reported PTI.

"At present, Eknath Shinde is the chief minister. After the elections, all the three alliance partners will decide on the chief minister," the senior BJP leader said, reported PTI.

He said the Shiv Sena and NCP split because Uddhav Thackeray prioritised his son over Eknath Shinde while Sharad Pawar prioritised his daughter over Ajit Pawar.

"These parties gave priority to their family members and the parties split. They blame the BJP for no reason," he said, reported PTI.

The BJP is against family-based politics, Shah asserted.

He rejected the Congress' accusation of BJP's plan to weaken reservations.

"It is the Modi government which gave reservations to OBCs. In fact, we strengthen the reservations," he said, reported PTI.

Shah also said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's act of flaunting the Constitution has been exposed after it came to light that the book (carried by Gandhi) had blank pages.

"He (Gandhi) has now become the butt of a joke," the BJP leader said, reported PTI.

Shah said the opposition MVA's leadership has been targeting the Mahayuti government's Ladki Bahin scheme for women, but has made a similar assurance with a higher financial assistance.
"This shows their contradictions. Instead of taking a stock of our performance, Rahul Gandhi should check what is happening in the states ruled by his party," he said, reported PTI.

Shah also said that the Congress' caste politics was aimed at dividing the country.
He rejected the MVA allegations about Maharashtra lagging behind in investments.

"During the MVA rule, Maharashtra was at the 4th position (in terms of FDI) while in the last two years, the state has got the highest FDI," Shah said, reported PTI.

(With inputs from PTI)