Fadnavis meets Eknath Shinde on eve of BJP's legislature party meeting

Mumbai: Ahead of the crucial legislature party meeting scheduled for Wednesday, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis met with caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday, the first in-person meeting since their discussions in Delhi last week.

The hour-long meeting's details remain unclear, with political observers interpreting it in various ways.

Some view it as an outreach effort by the BJP to placate an ally that may soon be ousted, while others believe it served as a preliminary discussion regarding the swearing-in ceremony set for December 5.

As preparations intensify for the swearing-in event at Azad Maidan, which will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, around 2,000 VVIPs, and approximately 40,000 supporters, the identity of the new chief minister remains uncertain.

Clarity on this matter is expected to emerge after the state BJP's legislature party meeting at Vidhan Bhawan on Wednesday morning, where the party will elect its leader.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, designated as central observers for the BJP legislature party meeting, will arrive in Mumbai on Tuesday evening.

The BJP has achieved remarkable success in the November 20 Maharashtra elections, securing 132 out of 288 seats, marking its best performance in the state so far.

Earlier in the day, Shinde visited a private hospital for a health check-up, setting tongues wagging in the Maharashtra political circles.

Fadnavis, seen as the frontrunner for the top post in the new BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP government, met Shinde at the latter's official residence 'Varsha' in Mumbai.

Shinde, who had been staying at his private residence in Thane for the last few days, visited the hospital in the morning.

"I came for a check-up. My health is in good condition," he told reporters while leaving the hospital.

A doctor said Shinde had throat issues. "The CM had a fever and infection, which caused weakness.

He also underwent an MRI scan as a precautionary measure," he said.

Shinde, whose party, Shiv Sena, is a constituent of the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition, has been unwell for the last few days. His decision to head to his village in Satara district last Friday had sparked speculation that he was unhappy over the way the new government was shaping up.

There are indications that the distribution of portfolios among the three allies might not be a smooth process. Sena leaders on Monday said that as per the "convention" of alliance politics, their party should get the home portfolio if the CM post went to the BJP.

A Shiv Sena leader said a broad consensus has emerged among top BJP leaders and other Mahauti allies to drop ministers facing serious allegations of corruption in the new government.

NCP chief Ajit Pawar, meanwhile, may meet Union minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Tuesday evening, a senior party leader said. State NCP chief Sunil Tatkare was responding to a question about reports that Pawar had sought a meeting with the senior BJP leader.

No appointment had been sought as such, Tatkare clarified.

The Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party is part of the Mahayuti along with the BJP and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut claimed that Shinde was "sulking and throwing tantrums" at Fadnavis with the backing of the "superpower in Delhi", an apparent reference to the BJP's top brass.

BJP leader Prasad Lad, meanwhile, announced that the swearing-in ceremony will be a grand affair with nearly 42,000 attendees.

Speaking to reporters outside the official residence of Fadnavis, Lad said, "PM Modi, nine to ten Union ministers, and 19 chief ministers and deputy chief ministers will attend the ceremony. It will be telecast live across the state wherever LED screens are available." Special arrangements have been made to accommodate 40,000 BJP supporters and a separate seating arrangement made for 2,000 VVIPs, including leaders from various religions, Lad added.

When asked whether Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray would be invited to the event, Lad said, "As a former chief minister, Thackeray will be invited by the General Administration Department as per the protocol. It is up to him to attend or to demonstrate his shallowness by skipping it. Similarly, Sharad Pawar, also a former chief minister, will be invited."

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