Will Devendra Fadnavis return as Maharashtra CM after BJP emerges as single largest party?

Improving its previous election tally of 105, the BJP has moved up to 127, just 18 short of the majority mark, as per trends of the result. 

On Fadnavis' probably return, BJP leader Pravin Darekar said as quoted by Mint, "The CM will be from Mahayuti and, obviously, the largest party has the greater chance and with BJP emerging the largest party, if there is a CM of BJP, it will be Devendra Fadnavis."

Darekar has also lauded the Ladli Bahin Yojana, the scheme aimed at providing financial assistance to women, for playing a key role in the BJP's resounding victory in Maharashtra.

As per the trends, the Mahayuti [BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) and Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar)] is leading in over 200 out of 288 seats as opposed to around 60 of the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi.

If the figures hold, the Mahayuti will have a political comeback in Maharashtra where the ruling coalition suffered a jolt in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Fadnavis, who is currently the Deputy Chief Minister, held the top post from 2014 to 2019.

However, he couldn't continue as the then united Shiv Sena had demanded the CM's post for half of five-year term after winning the 2019 Maharashtra elections with the BJP.

Eknath Shinde became the Chief Minister in 2022 after he led a faction of the Sena to ally with the BJP.

The Shinde Sena, BJP and a faction of the then united Nationalist Congress Party had formed Mahayuti.