Key BJP meet in Mumbai today, Mahayuti leaders to stake claim to form government

The BJP will hold a crucial legislature party meeting in Mumbai today as the impasse over.

A new Chief Minister in Maharashtra has continued for more than 10 days since the ruling Mahayuti swept the state Assembly elections with a stunning victory against the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi.

The party has appointed Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani as central observers of the meeting scheduled to take place at 10 am, which comes a day before the swearing in of a new Mahayuti government in Maharashtra, with the BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis likely to take over as Chief Minister’s post.

After the meeting, Fadnavis, caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and NCP chief Ajit Pawar will meet Governor CP Radhakrishnan and stake claim to form the Mahayuti 2.0 government.

On Tuesday evening, Fadnavis visited Shinde at his home in Mumbai, marking the first in-person meeting between the two since their discussions in Delhi last week about government formation. According to sources, the Shiv Sena chief has agreed to serve as Deputy Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, preparations for the swearing in ceremony are in full swing in Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, which will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, some 2,000 VVIPs, and about 40,000 supporters.

On November 23, the Mahayuti swept the state polls by winning a whopping 230 of 288 Assembly seats. The BJP emerged as the single largest party, winning 132 seats, its highest-ever tally, while the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s NCP got 57 and 41, respectively.

Nirmala Sitharaman and Vijay Rupani have already reached Mumbai for the meeting scheduled to take place at the Vidhan Bhavan. During the meeting with the Maharashtra Governor later in the day, the Mahayuti leaders will hand over a letter of MLAs supporting them to stake claim to form the government.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday night, Vijay Rupani said the name of the legislature party leader would be finalised after talks with the party’s newly-elected MLAs. “The government will be formed. Discussions with the elected MLAs will take place. One name will be finalised, and it will be announced later. The legislature party leader will take oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. If there is unanimity, then only one proposal (name) will be put forward,” he said.

Devendra Fadnavis, seen as the frontrunner for the top post, and Eknath Shinde’s meeting at the latter’s residence ‘Varsha’ in Mumbai lasted for an hour on Tuesday evening. Details regarding their talks remain unclear.

Earlier on Tuesday, Shinde, who had been staying at his Thane residence for the last few days, visited a city-based private hospital and underwent tests for a persistent throat infection and fever. Asked about his health after emerging from the hospital, Shinde said “badhiya hai (I’m fine)”.

The Shiv Sena leader has been unwell for the last few days. His decision to head to his village in Satara district on November 29 sparked speculation that he was reportedly unhappy about accepting the role of a Deputy Chief Minister under Fadnavis.