Shinde, Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar to meet Amit Shah in Delhi as suspense over next Maharashtra CM continue

Top Mahayuti leaders Eknath Shinde Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar are likely to meet Union minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Thursday night as suspense over next Maharashtra CM continue sources said reported the PTIThe process of government formation in Maharashtra is expected to get a boost after a crucial meeting between them in Delhi they saidThe meeting assumes significance amid reports that the BJP leadership may be mulling over names of a few of its Maratha leaders despite the perception that Devendra Fadnavis becoming the CM for a third time is a foregone conclusion the sources saidCaste dynamics have assumed a greater role in the choice of the CM as an overwhelming number of the 288 MLAs from all the parties are from the Maratha communityDevendra Fadnavis is a Brahmin and first became the CM in 2014 and again for a brief while in 2019 If the writ of RSS prevails the chances of Fadnavis becoming the CM are bright the sources said according to the PTIDespite vociferous demands from Shiv Sena leaders that Shinde should have a go at another term at the top post the caretaker CM on Wednesday made it clear that he has told PM Modi and Shah that he abide by the BJPs choice for the postAs per the PTI a close aide of Shinde said on Thursday that the caretaker CM is unlikely to accept the post of deputy CM in the new dispensationSanjay Shirsat an MLA and spokesperson of the Shiv Sena however said Shinde would be a part of the cabinetHe is unlikely to be a deputy chief minister It does not befit a person who has already served as chief minister Shirsat told PTIThe Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde will nominate another leader for the deputy CMs post he addedEknath Shindes MP son Shrikant Shinde expressed pride in his father for exemplifying alliance dharma by prioritising collective governance over personal ambitionIn a post on X Shrikant highlighted his fathers deep connection with the people of Maharashtra emphasising his relentless dedication to serving all segments of societyI am proud of my father and chief leader of the Shiv Sena He kept faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah and set an example of the alliance dharma keeping his personal ambition aside he said hellipmdash Dr Shrikant Lata Eknath Shinde DrSEShinde November 27 2024The BJPled Mahayuti alliance scripted a stunning victory in the recent state assembly elections by winning 230 seats in the 288member HouseRecovering from its Lok Sabha elections losses the BJP bagged 132 constituencies highest among all constituents of the Mahayuti Shindes Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawars NCP also performed well Sena won 57 while NCP won 41 seatsCongressled Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA suffered a setback The grand old party registered one of its worst performances in the state assembly polls after it won only 16 seats Sharad Pawars NCPSP won just 10 seats whereas Uddhav Thackerays UBT won 20 seatsOn Tuesday Eknath Shinde tendered his resignation as CM to Governor C P Radhakrishnan The Governor requested Shinde to continue as caretaker chief minister until the new government is formedwith PTI inputs