New Delhi: While it is still a suspense that who will be leading Maharashtra, caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde dubbed the first post-election meeting with Union minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda as “good and positive”. According to reports, Shinde had also asserted that the final name for the Chief Minister’s position would likely be decided in another meeting scheduled later on Saturday.
“The meeting was good and positive. This was the first meeting. We discussed with Amit Shah and JP Nadda…There will be another meeting of the Mahayuti. In this meeting, a decision will be taken about who will be the Chief Minister. The meeting will be held in Mumbai,” Eknath Shinde said, as quoted by Hindustan Times.
While BJP may pick Fadnavis as the Chief Minister, it is also desirous of having Shinde as the Deputy CM, a TOI report quoting sources claimed. The source also claimed that having Shinde as the Deputy CM would reduce BJP’s reliance on ‘Ajit dada’ (Ajit Pawar).
Shinde had also reiterated that there were no obstacles regarding the CM post. After arriving in Delhi, he had said ‘ladla bhai’ was a designation higher than anything else for him. Earlier, he had also stated that he would accept any decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding Maharashtra CM post.
The Mahayuti meeting
The first official meeting of the Mahayuti alliance was attended by Eknath Shinde, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, NCP chief Ajit Pawar and other Mahayuti leaders on Thursday in the presence of Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda. Shinde, Fadnavis and Pawar left the national capital at late night after attending the meeting.
CM likely to be from BJP: Sources
According to sources, Union Home minister Amit Shah decided the power-sharing structure in the state during the meeting with the three alliance leaders. Reports claimed that BJP would hold the chief minister’s post. Amit Shah is believed to have given the nod for two deputy chief ministers, one from each ally, the Shiv Sena and the NCP, reported the Hindustan Times.
‘No internal feud’: Devendra Fadnavis
BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis had stated that Mahayuti alliance had no internal differences. A decision on the chief minister would be made soon after consulting the leaders, he had mentioned earlier.
