BJP set to honour Devendra Fadnavis as Maharashtra's next Chief Minister :::: And now ... Priyanka Gandhi Vadra -- the 'talent pool' angle !!

The BJP is inching ahead in announcing the name of next Chief Minister of Maharashtra. In all likelihood, the honour would go to Devendra Fadnavis, who was CM from 2014 to 2019 and later Deputy Chief Minister under Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde from 2022. 

The saffron outfit has named Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and ex-Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani as the central observers for a meeting of its newly elected Maharashtra MLAs.

The issue of the next Chief Minister may be settled in the meeting that is set to be held on December 4.

The meeting will be held Wednesday morning in Vidhan Bhawan, the party functionary said. 

BJP leader Girish Mahajan, who is considered close to Fadnavis, visited Eknath Shinde’s house in Maharashtra's Thane Monday evening.

The episode highlights possibilities of  some differences between Eknath Shinde and the BJP high command. But the NDA as an alliance is more than happy and confident of PM Narendra Modi's acceptability to the voters.  

But the 'talent pool' debate has entered an entirely new dynamism and ne-ball games vis-a-vis the Congress party.  The grand old party is becoming extremely focused on the dynasty.

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi's daughter Pryanka Gandhi Vadra is now another leader/scion of the dynasty to enter parliament. She will be the third lawmaker from the family now.

An article in Pakistani newspaper 'Dawn' sums up the paradox:

"For a country as large and complex as India, it does seem odd that the main opposition group struggles to find talent outside the Gandhi family. Ideally, the catchment area for talent should be more widespread."

The Pakistani paper is hardly pro-BJP or pro-Modi. Even such a media outlet throws a good question for Congress workers and leaders to ponder over: 

"Do Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi find themselves equipped for the enormous challenge? " 

The answer is perhaps in the next sentence -- "While the jury is out, the Gandhis may wish to cast an inward gaze to see if they have the intellectual depth, experience and fortitude needed...". 

(After extensive negotiations within the Mahayuti alliance, Eknath Shinde is now likely to take oath as one of two deputy chief ministers at the swearing-in ceremony on December 5) 

In the meantime as the BJP prepares ground for Fadnavis to return as the Chief Minister, things seem to be clear that Ajit Pawar of NCP will be the deputy CM. So the next question is whether it will be the outgoing CM Eknath Shinde as the second deputy CM.

However, analysts the "jump" from the top post to the deputy's for a Shiv Sainik (full of egos)  might be seen as a bit too big to stomach, and explain to party workers, even if it mirrors the step taken by Fadnavis himself in 2022.

A possible option people spoke about is is Eknath Shinde's son, Shrikant Shinde. However, 'Junior Shinde' has ruled out such a scenario. But all said and done, it appears the ball is in Amit Shah's court.

Eknath Shinde told reporters he had spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I told PM Modi I would not be an obstacle... we (the Mahayuti alliance that won the election) will go with what he decides."

In the Maharashtra polls, the BJP emerged as the single-largest party in the 288-seat House with 132 MLAs, while the Shinde Sena got 57 and the Pawar NCP group 41. 

Arithmetic suggests, the BJP can form the government - with the majority mark at 145 - without help from the Sena faction.

The Opposition has alleged EVM tampering and demanded a return to ballot voting. The BJP has junked these claims.

The Election Commission has warned that anyone spreading falsehood about EVMs will face action.

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Back to Rahul Gandhi-Priyanka 'bhakti' from the 'Dwan' newspaper writer - Jawed Naqvi (otherwise an Indian). He feels:

"Rahul Gandhi has also become an articulate advocate for a greater share in political and economic governance for lower-caste groups, the OBCs, who comprise over half the population. 

Naqvi also adds, "If Priyanka and he succeed in galvanising the party, to capture the imagination of the masses as is thought they could, the Gandhis would earn the gratitude of compatriots who are groping in the dark for relief from Narendra Modi’s unending misrule". 

Of course as a sincere student of politics, readers will take the phrase "unending misrule"  with a pinch of salt. 

Well, the article is published in a Pakistani newspaper for India's western neighbour which is overwhelmingly clueless to handle a Hindutva icon Modi and also his friends such as Donald Trump.   

We are not overstating certain things here. 

Just glance over Rashid Amjad's article also published in 'Dawn' -- 

"On the external front, there are already serious concerns building up of global economic uncertainty as Donald Trump takes office next month. While the dollar will, in all probability, strengthen given his announced trade curbs on imports from China, Canada and Mexico in the first instance, a major trade war can erupt with each economy adopting policies designed to protect its own interests. 

As in the past, this could trigger a global recession which would hurt developing countries including Pakistan." 

So, a simple piece for Pakistanis and their newspapers - focus more on your problems. 

India has a strong democracy and Modi has won three consecutive polls. Like Sickulars in Bharat; you too could be worried for next few years at least as the Namo phenomenon still draws votes in India. 

Ting tong !! Post script - keep praying for 'miracles' by below average bro-sis sublings ! Jairam Ramesh and Mallikarjun Kharge too are doing so !! 

ends