Maharashtra : From Maratha, OBC reservation to handling the financial situation, the challenges in front of CM Shinde are no less

From restoring reservation for Maratha and Other Backward Classes (OBC) communities to handling the government’s financial situation, there is no dearth of challenges for the new Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. However, the real challenge for the 58-year-old Shinde will be running the government with a powerful ally, who is likely to control everything from the assembly floor to key departments. He has to tread carefully to avoid any possible impression of being a puppet chief minister.

Shinde has become the chief minister after a rebellion against the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government last month. The new CM will also have to find a way to restore the political reservation that the OBC community enjoyed in local self-government bodies. It was struck down by the Supreme Court in March this year.

Reservation for Marathas in government jobs-education
An equally important political issue would be providing reservation for the Maratha community in government jobs and education, which was struck down by the Supreme Court in May. “It is a tough job compared to OBC political reservation, but with the friendly attitude of the central government after the change of power, we can expect to ensure reservation for Marathas,” a senior legislator from the rebel army camp said.

Corona epidemic is also raising its head again
Apart from these, the COVID-19 pandemic has raised its head again. Agricultural distress and state finances are also serious issues. Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis must find a way to deal with it. The BJP leader said, “It will be helpful for Shinde to make Fadnavis his deputy, as it will be easier to take the Centre’s help in dealing with such issues. Since we are partners in power, it becomes our responsibility to deal with them. Anyone on this front Any failure or disturbance may affect our reputation.”

Division of portfolios in Shinde faction and BJP is also an issue
The two sides are yet to announce the division of portfolios. Departments like Home, Finance, Cooperation, Rural Development and Urban Development are important for the control of the government. Moreover, the bureaucracy may take Fadnavis more seriously because of his weightage to Fadnavis in a BJP-ruled central government. The bureaucrats were not inclined to do anything against Fadnavis even during the MVA regime in the state.

According to the BJP leader, Shinde’s biggest challenge would be to work under Fadnavis’s shadow and try to take him forward. “Since Shinde will lead a government controlled by the BJP, he should act as per the template set by the party and not go out of line,” he said.