THE TRANSACTIONAL NATURE OF POLITICS TODAY

It has been over a week since the Maharashtra results, but the BJP is still to announce its chief ministerial nominee.

- PRIYA SAHGAL

Given the fact that the BJP is the largest party in the Mahayuti coalition, as well as the fact that the state campaign was led by the outgoing deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the choice should have been an easy one. But there is a lot more at stake. For starters, there is coalition dharma (and drama) at play. Eknath Shinde, who is also the outgoing Chief Minister, is not ready to give up his seat and has thrown a full-scale sulk that has grabbed national headlines. If not the CM's post, he definitely wants the Home Ministry as a consolation prize. But that is a portfolio the BJP will never part with, for therein lies control of the state's security and intelligence apparatus.