Eknath Shinde (L) and Devendra Fadnavis (R).
Credit: PTI File Photo
Mumbai: The grand swearing-in ceremony of the new Maha Yuti-NDA government in Maharashtra is expected on 5 December even as backroom negotiations between BJP and its allies Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP continued over the weekend on the power-sharing formula and distribution of portfolios.
BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis has emerged as the frontrunner for the post of Maharashtra Chief Minister though there are a few other contenders.
While Shinde, the caretaker CM is in his village in Dare near the hill station of Mahabaleshwar in Satara district, Fadnavis and Pawar were in Pune for different engagements.
It has been a week since the results of the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly polls were out, however, the BJP is yet to convene the Legislature Party (LP) meeting.
While Pawar has been elected NCP LP leader, Shinde in the Shiv Sena LP meeting has conferred all powers to Shinde to take a call on issues related to government formation.
“We expect that the swearing-in is expected to be held on 5 December,” said senior BJP leader and Colaba MLA Rahul Narwerkar, who was the Speaker in the previous Legislative Assembly.
The swearing-in ceremony is expected to be held in the historic Azad Maidan in the Fort area of Mumbai.
Once the BJP LP leader is elected and Shinde returns to Mumbai, the leaders of the Maha Yuti top brass would meet and give the final shape to the government.
In the Assembly polls, the BJP has got 132 seats, while Shiv Sena 57 and NCP 1. Besides, BJP has support of five other MLAs who are independents or members of smaller parties.
Last week, Fadnavis, Shinde and Pawar had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Health and Family Welfare Minister and BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda.
Shinde was keen on a second term or at least a rotational post of CM, however, the BJP has ruled it out.
Even Pawar was keen but numbers were not on his side.
The BJP high-command is in no mood to sacrifice the post of the CM this time as it has got a whopping 132 seats very close to the 145 magic figure.
Maharashtra Assembly poll 2024 results | Check constituency results here
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Assembly Elections 2024 | The Maharashtra Assembly polls took place against the backdrop of a fractured political landscape in the western state where the Shiv Sena and NCP went up against the Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar factions, even as the BJP and Congress tried to make their mark. Maha Yuti are currently comfortably poised to win. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM faced a challenge after Hemant Soren's arrest and Champai, a longstanding party member, joining the BJP, but look set to retain power with its I.N.D.I.A. allies. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.
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