BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis is likely to assume office as Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, with Eknath Shinde expected to take on the role of Deputy CM, alongside NCP leader Ajit Pawar, the Indian Express reported. BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis is poised to assume office as Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, with Eknath Shinde expected to serve as Deputy CM alongside NCP’s Ajit Pawar. On Monday, the BJP’s top leadership cleared Fadnavis’s appointment, which was also endorsed by alliance partners, Shiv Sena (led by Shinde) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) of Pawar, according to sources within the BJP.
According to The Indian Express report, a BJP insider confirmed, “Fadnavis’s name has been approved for CM,” while other sources in the Mahayuti alliance added, “In addition to Fadnavis as CM, both Shiv Sena and NCP will have one Deputy CM each.”
However, the report also quotes a senior Shiv Sena source as saying, “There has been no consultation with us regarding Fadnavis as CM, and our party has not yet agreed on any candidate for the position.”
Shinde, who had hoped to be retained as CM, is now likely to be appointed Deputy CM, alongside Pawar. Over the past 36 hours, Shinde had been in negotiations with the BJP, with reports suggesting that the Shiv Sena could secure around 12 ministerial positions, including key portfolios. The NCP is expected to get around 10 ministerial berths.
The Council of Ministers in Maharashtra can have a maximum of 43 members, including the CM. The BJP, which holds 132 MLAs, is likely to retain 21 ministerial berths for itself. Sources indicate that the four key portfolios—Home, Finance, Urban Development, and Revenue—will now be shared with the alliance partners. While the BJP is expected to retain control over Home and Finance, final negotiations over the number of ministerial posts and their respective portfolios are still ongoing.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has scheduled a meeting in Delhi this evening with Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar to finalize details regarding power-sharing and the Cabinet composition. An official announcement is expected to follow the discussions. Sources suggest that the BJP’s central leadership has assured its allies that it will address their concerns as much as possible, while ensuring that the party’s interests are safeguarded.