Union Home Minister Amit Shah
Photo : Twitter
Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed confidence on Sunday that the ruling Mahayuti alliance will secure a full majority in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections. The Mahayuti coalition, which includes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) under Ajit Pawar, is seeking to retain power in the state.
Speaking to reporters after unveiling the BJP’s manifesto for the November 20 elections, Shah said the three alliance partners had each released their own manifestos, and a committee of ministers would be formed post-election to ensure that the promises made are honoured.
Mahayuti CM Face to Be Decided After Elections
When asked about the decision on the chief ministerial candidate, Shah confirmed that the Mahayuti would announce its CM face only after securing a full majority in the polls. “At present, Eknath Shinde is the chief minister. After the elections, all three alliance partners will decide on the chief minister,” Shah stated, Hindustan Times reported.
The Home Minister’s comments came amid speculation surrounding leadership within the alliance. He attributed the rift within both the Shiv Sena and the NCP to family-based politics, citing Uddhav Thackeray’s prioritisation of his son Aaditya over Shinde, and Sharad Pawar’s preference for his daughter Supriya Sule over Ajit Pawar. Shah rejected claims that the BJP was responsible for these splits, labelling the accusations as baseless.
Shah Rejects Family-Based Politics Criticism
Shah reiterated the BJP’s opposition to dynastic politics, which he said had caused division within the Shiv Sena and NCP. “We are against any ‘family-based’ politics,” he asserted, reinforcing the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to merit-based leadership rather than family dynasties.
He also took the opportunity to address the Congress’ allegations that the BJP intended to weaken reservations for backward communities. Shah responded by highlighting the Modi government’s record on supporting reservations. “It is the Modi government which gave reservations to OBCs. In fact, we have strengthened the reservations,” he added.
Rahul Gandhi’s Constitution Gaffe Mocked
In a pointed remark, Shah also took aim at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, criticising his recent act of displaying the Constitution, which was later found to have blank pages. “He (Rahul Gandhi) has now become the butt of a joke,” Shah quipped, referring to the incident that has attracted widespread mockery across social media.
Shah further criticised the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) for targeting the Mahayuti government’s ‘Ladki Bahin’ scheme, a programme aimed at empowering women. He noted that while the MVA had promised similar initiatives with higher financial allocations, their contradictory stance undermined their credibility. “Instead of taking stock of our performance, Rahul Gandhi should check what is happening in the states ruled by his party,” Shah said.
Congress’ Election Manifesto Promises Financial Aid
On the same day, Congress also released its manifesto for the Maharashtra elections, with national president Mallikarjun Kharge unveiling a series of promises aimed at securing voter support. Among the five guarantees listed in the Congress manifesto was an annual financial aid of ₹3 lakh to every family in Maharashtra. The party also announced the ‘Mahalakshmi’ scheme, which promises ₹3,000 monthly to every woman in the state.
Maharashtra Assembly Elections
The Maharashtra Assembly elections will be held on November 20, with the counting of votes scheduled for November 23. Both the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition parties are gearing up for a high-stakes contest in one of India’s most politically significant states.
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