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Maharashtra government formation: Suspense on CM face is likely to end soon as meetings resume today after Shinde’s return from break.
Maharashtra CM suspense likely to end today (PTI Image)
Maharashtra CM Suspense: Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde returned to Thane from his native village in Satara on Sunday evening, paving the way for the resumption of power-sharing talks among the Mahayuti allies which is likely to take place today.
Shinde had gone on a two-day trip to Dare in Satara on Friday cancelling the scheduled meeting with Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar. Speculations were rife that he was upset with the way the new state government was shaping up and discontented with the reported denial of the home department to Shiv Sena.
Deadlock Over Home Department, Deputy CM Post?
However, Shinde, upon his return to Thane last evening, told reporters that he had taken a two-day break due to a hectic election campaign. His doctors earlier stated that Shinde had fallen ill and had a sore throat and he was on medication.
Upon being asked if Shiv Sena had insisted on the home department and whether he wanted his son Shrikant Shinde to be the deputy chief minister, Shinde seemed to dodge the question stating that the Mahayuti allies – BJP, NCP, and Shiv Sena – would decide the government formation through consensus.
“We have already had a meeting with Amit Shah and will soon have another meeting of the three Mahayuti leaders. We will take an appropriate decision after this,” he said.
What Happened In Meeting With Amit Shah?
On November 28 night, Shinde, Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah who reportedly decided the outline for power-sharing.
Shah also reportedly told Shinde in a separate meeting that the BJP would retain the home department.
The Shiv Sena has also pointed to Fadnavis retaining Home in the previous government in which he was demoted from CM to Deputy CM, and thus the party wants the same principle to be applied in Shinde’s case, according to reports.
Both parties are also keen on clinching the Speaker’s post and the Shiv Sena is reportedly mounting pressure on the BJP for this. However, the BJP is reportedly not willing to let go of either the Home department or the Speaker’s post.
It’s been over a week since the results of the Maharashtra Assembly Elections were announced on November 23 and the Mahayuti retained power with a huge majority, but the suspense on the CM name has been on ever since.
