Mumbai: More than 10 days of suspense over the next chief minister and government formation in Maharashtra is finally expected to end on Wednesday as the BJP legislature party meets in Mumbai to elect its leader following which the oath-taking ceremony will be held on December 5.
Hours before the crucial meeting, Devendra Fadnavis, the frontrunner for the CM post, met caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday. This was their first meeting since the discussions with Home Minister Amit Shah last week following which Shinde left for his hometown and then got admitted to a hospital in Thane due to health issues but rumours had it he was upset over the distribution of portfolios.
The details of Fadnavis and Shinde’s meeting remain unclear but it’s being seen as an attempt by the BJP to convince its ally Shiv Sena to reconsider its options, while others believe it was a preliminary discussion about the swearing-in ceremony of the Mahayuti government.
BJP legislature party meeting
The meeting will be held at the Vidhan Bhawan at around 10.30 am. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, designated as central observers for the BJP legislature party meeting, landed in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Rupani has affirmed the Mahayuti government will “surely be formed” after the leader is elected on Wednesday amid criticism from the Opposition over the delay in announcing the chief minister.
Maharashtra government swearing-in on December 5
With preparations in full swing for the swearing-in ceremony at Azad Maidan—set to host Prime Minister Narendra Modi, around 2,000 VVIPs, and nearly 40,000 supporters—the identity of the new chief minister remains undecided.
The BJP’s impressive victory in the November 20 Maharashtra elections, winning 132 of the 288 seats, marks its best-ever performance in the state.
#WATCH | Preparations underway at Azad Maidan in Mumbai for Maharashtra Chief Minister’s oath-taking ceremony, scheduled to take place on 5th December.
Senior leaders of NDA and several Chief Ministers are likely to participate in the oath-taking ceremony. pic.twitter.com/5suWr7qQmb
— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2024
