NAGPUR: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday skilfully skirted the question by the media as to who will be the chief ministerial candidate in the state by saying that the state’s three ruling parties, his own the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena led by CM Eknath Shinde, and Ajit Pawar led NCP – will together decide the Mahayuti’s chief ministerial face. He also categorically asserted that there is no confusion in the ruling alliance over the issue.

Although the Election Commission has not made any announcements, the elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly are likely to be held in November and all eyes are on who will be the CM face of the alliance. 

Replying to a query on whether the CM face in Maharashtra will be decided before or after the elections, he said, “There is no reason to create unnecessary confusion. In Mahayuti, CM Eknath Shinde is the head of the government, and we are going to polls under his leadership.” When questioned further Fadanvis who has himself been the chief minister of the state said he does not have the right to decide the chief ministerial face.

“BJP’s parliamentary board and leaders of two other ruling parties – CM Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP – will together take a decision on this matter. Only they can decide whether to do it (choose the CM candidate) now or later. I don’t have the right to speak about it," Fadnavis said.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Friday also spoke along the lines of what Fadnavis said and tried to effectively defuse tensions within Mahayuti, while keeping options open. Bawankule said, "The decision on the chief ministerial candidate will be a collective one, involving our central leadership and key allies like CM Eknath Shinde, Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar."

Talking on the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) Bawankule's pointed remarks about Uddhav Thackeray's struggle to secure clear support from allies exposed cracks in the opposition camp. He claimed that Thackeray had to "visit Delhi for discussions with Congress leadership" and approach NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar for support as a CM candidate painting a picture of a fragmented opposition.