Mumbai: With the suspense over the next Maharashtra chief minister lingering, Home Minister and BJP top brass Amit Shah will hold key meetings with Devendra Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar and caretaker CM Eknath Shinde in Delhi today to discuss the government formation and the official announcement.
Speaking about the meeting, Ajit Pawar said he, Fadnavis and Shinde will leave for Delhi on Thursday afternoon to discuss government formation and the chief minister of Maharashtra.
The meetings come after Eknath Shinde, amid heightened buzz over staying with the BJP-fold or not in the new government, assured that will continue to be an ally and will accept whatever decision the BJP takes on the chief minister and has also assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi about it.
Fadnavis is top CM contender
Eknath Shinde’s announcement came after strong demands from his Shiv Sena party leaders for him to remain as Chief Minister, following the ruling Mahayuti alliance’s landslide victory under his leadership. With Shinde agreeing, the stage is now set for the formation of a new government, likely to be led by BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis.
Shinde and Ajit Pawar are likely to take the role of deputy chief minister in the new state government.
BJP’s plan to consolidate Maratha voters
On Wednesday, Amit Shah held a late-night meeting with BJP General Secretary Vinod Tawde which lasted around half an hour, after Tawde returned from his visit to Patna. According to sources, the discussion focused on the evolving political scenario in Maharashtra and the efforts to form a new government. They also deliberated on the potential political and social impact if Eknath Shinde were to step down as chief minister.
Sources further revealed that the BJP’s top leadership is actively considering the implications on the Maratha voter base. Ahead of Thursday’s meeting between Amit Shah and the three key leaders of the Mahayuti alliance, Shah has been gathering feedback from Maharashtra’s leaders.
Earlier in the day, he held separate meetings with leaders from the NCP and Shiv Sena to gain insights. For Thursday’s meetings, Eknath Shinde is expected to arrive in Delhi around 4 PM. Shah will then meet Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar before taking a final call on the government formation.
Maharashtra government swearing-in date
Ajit Pawar informed reporters that the new Chief Minister is expected to be sworn in either on November 30 or December 1. He also mentioned that the new government will have two deputy chief ministers.
