Maharashtra’s Wait for a Chief Minister: Sanjay Raut Reveals the Delay’s Cause

Sanjay Raut, a leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), has pointed to the “unnatural mandate” received by Mahayuti in the elections as the reason for the delay in appointing Maharashtra’s Chief Minister. Despite eight days passing since the results, the state still awaits its new CM. Raut alleged that internal conflicts within Mahayuti are behind the delay, prompting acting Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to visit his village instead of attending key meetings on government formation.

Meeting postponed due to Shinde?

The suspense over Maharashtra’s new Chief Minister continues as acting CM Eknath Shinde visited his native village in Satara. An important meeting in Mumbai to decide the government’s formation was postponed. Rumors suggested that Shinde was upset with the ongoing decisions, but his party leader Uday Samant clarified that Shinde was unwell, not angry.

Raut questions election results

Raut alleged irregularities in the voting process, claiming a sudden increase in votes during the last hours of polling led to Mahayuti’s win. He cited 76 lakh votes cast between 5 pm and 11:30 pm in Maharashtra and a similar increase in Haryana, calling these results unnatural and against people’s wishes.

MVA remains united

Despite Mahayuti’s massive win with 230 out of 288 seats, reports of rifts in the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) were dismissed by Raut. He asserted that MVA remains united and in constant discussions led by Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar, and Congress leaders. He added that decisions on future elections would be made collectively at the right time.