The name of the next chief minister of Maharashtra will be announced on the eve of the swearing-in ceremony of the Mahayuti government, which is set for Wednesday, December 4, as reported by PTI, citing a senior BJP functionary. The announcement will come after the Bharatiya Janata Party elects its legislature party leader, the functionary added.
On Monday, the saffron party appointed Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani as central observers for the Maharashtra legislature party’s meeting, where the MLAs will elect their leader.
The senior BJP functionary told PTI, “Rupani and Sitharaman would meet the BJP’s elected representatives in Mumbai on Wednesday (December 4). Following this meeting, the chosen candidate’s name will be relayed to senior leaders in Delhi. These observers will then announce the elected leader of the BJP, who is set to be the next chief minister.”
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State BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule had already announced that the oath-taking ceremony of the Mahayuti government will take place at Azad Maidan on December 5, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
While no official confirmation on this matter has been sent out, a senior BJP leader reportedly stated on Sunday that Devendra Fadnavis’ name has been finalised for the Maharashtra CM post.
Meanwhile, caretaker chief minister Eknath Shinde reaffirmed his support to the BJP top brass, saying that he and his party will accept whatever decision is made. He clarified that he will not come in the way of the BJP getting the chief minister’s post.
Both Shiv Sena and NCP, constituents of the Mahayuti alliance with the BJP, are each expected to get the post of deputy chief minister in the new government.
Earlier in the day, Eknath Shinde’s son Shrikant dismissed rumours of him being in the race for the deputy CM post, stating that he has “no desire for a position in power.” He clarified that he is not in the race for any ministerial position in the state.
In the recently concluded 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Mahayuti alliance achieved a landslide victory, securing 230 of the 288 seats. Of these, the BJP bagged 132 seats, Shinde’s Sena won 57, and NCP secured 41 seats.
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