Jay’s CM pitch for Sunetra sparks debate, BJP says Fadnavis will lead in 2029

Pune: Mahayuti alliance partners BJP and Shiv Sena on Friday reacted sharply to NCP member Jay Pawar's hope that his mother, deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar, would become the chief minister after the 2029 assembly elections.BJP minister Jaykumar Gore said BJP would return to power in 2029 under the leadership of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Shiv Sena's Bharat Gogawale took a swipe at Jay, saying the latter might be dreaming about the future after Sunetra's recent record-margin victory in the bypoll.NCP member Jay had told reporters on Thursday that Sunetra would contest the 2029 assembly elections from Baramati. He also expressed hope that she would become the chief minister.Reacting to it, BJP's Gore said everyone was free to express their opinion, but adequate legislative strength and public support were required to become the chief minister. "The government is functioning well under Fadnavis," Gore said, adding that Fadnavis had adequate support from both people and legislators.Some leaders in the alliance said it was natural for the party workers to hope their leaders would become the chief minister. Shiv Sena's minister Sanjay Shirsat said there was nothing wrong in Jay hoping to see his mother and party leader become the chief minister."We as Shiv Sena workers would want Eknath Shinde to become the chief minister, while BJP workers will want Fadnavis to continue. There is nothing wrong in having such ambitions," Shirsat said.BJP spokesperson Navnath Ban said it was natural for workers of every alliance partner to express a desire to see their leader as the chief minister. He said Fadnavis would remain the chief minister at least till 2029 because BJP currently had the majority support required to form the government.Jay's remarks drew reactions from the opposition, too. His cousin and NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar said it was both late Ajit Pawar's wish, and the collective view of NCP and NCP (SP) workers that he should make an attempt for the chief minister's post in the 2029 assembly elections. He said the idea behind bringing the two parties together was to strengthen their political position ahead of the polls."In Maharashtra, anyone aspiring to become the chief minister will have to politically oppose BJP. During his final days, Ajit Pawar spoke against BJP and raised public issues. So, if someone dreams of becoming the chief minister, s/he must understand that it will not be possible while remaining in alliance with BJP. They will have to stand against BJP," Rohit said.Sachin Sawant of Congress said political history across the country showed allies of BJP often had to give up the ambition of occupying the chief minister's post. "If you want the chief minister's post, you will have to stand against BJP," Sawant said, citing the example of Bihar.BJP's Samrat Chaudhary became the Bihar chief minister after JD(U)'s Nitish Kumar went to the Rajya Sabha.
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