Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis arrived at Varsha, Mumbai, on Tuesday evening to meet caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, as uncertainty continues over the selection of Maharashtra’s next Chief Minister.
This marks the first meeting between the two leaders from the BJP and Shiv Sena since the assembly election results were announced.
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The meeting holds significant importance ahead of the oath-taking ceremony scheduled for December 5 at Azad Maidan, especially as public disagreements over power-sharing arrangements have been brewing over the last few days.
In the Maharashtra Assembly elections, held on November 23, the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 132 seats, while its alliance partners, Shiv Sena and NCP, won 57 and 41 seats, respectively.
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Despite their pledges to support the government formation, made during a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi last week, Shinde returned to Mumbai and took time off to visit his native village in Satara. Following his return, Shinde canceled all appointments, citing ill health, and later visited a Thane hospital for a check-up on Tuesday.
BJP leader Girish Mahajan met Shinde twice in the past 24 hours, and Fadnavis’ visit to Shinde’s residence aims to restart discussions on the formation of the new government and the cabinet composition, ahead of the swearing-in ceremony.