In Short
- Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar meet Amit Shah to decide next Chief Minister
- BJP seeks 20 cabinet berths, Shinde’s Sena may get more berths than NCP
- Maharashtra Chief Minister’s swearing-in likely on December 2 or 5
Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis and NCP leader Ajit Pawar met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence in Delhi on Thursday night in an effort to end the deadlock over who would assume the state’s top post following the NDA’s landslide victory in the Assembly elections. However, no decision was reached during the two-hour meeting that ended at midnight.
Key Points:
- Election Outcome: The Mahayuti alliance secured 230 out of 288 seats, with the BJP winning 132 seats, Shiv Sena 57, and NCP 41.
- Leadership Discussions: Despite the BJP’s dominant performance, the alliance has not finalized the Chief Minister’s position. While Fadnavis is a strong contender, Shinde has expressed willingness to accept the BJP’s decision, stating he would not be an obstacle.
- Power-Sharing Negotiations: Talks have centered on cabinet berth allocations, with the BJP seeking around 20 ministerial positions. The Shiv Sena is expected to receive a larger share than the NCP. Specific portfolios are yet to be assigned.
- Future Meetings: Another round of discussions is planned in Mumbai to finalize the Chief Ministerial candidate and other cabinet positions. The swearing-in ceremony is tentatively scheduled for December 2 or 5.
Conclusion:
The Mahayuti alliance is actively working to establish a new government in Maharashtra. While the BJP’s electoral success positions Devendra Fadnavis as a leading candidate for Chief Minister, final decisions on leadership and cabinet roles are pending further consultations among alliance partners.
For a visual summary of the recent developments, you can watch this news report:
