North News
Mumbai, November 28
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis is widely seen as the frontrunner to become Maharashtra’s next Chief Minister after caretaker CM Eknath Shinde expressed his readiness to abide by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to meet Shinde, Fadnavis, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar in New Delhi on Thursday to finalize the government formation and announce the new Chief Minister for the Mahayuti alliance.
Shinde, who resigned on Tuesday, stated on Wednesday that he would fully support any decision by Prime Minister Modi. “I have told the Prime Minister that if my presence hinders government formation, I will accept any decision he makes,” Shinde said, praising both Prime Minister and Amit Shah for their backing during his tenure. The Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), and the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), scored a landslide victory in the recent Assembly elections. The BJP won 132 of the 148 seats it contested, while the Shiv Sena secured 57. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a crushing defeat.
Shinde, Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar met Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan earlier this week to submit Shinde’s resignation. The Governor has asked Shinde to continue as caretaker Chief Minister until a new leader is chosen.
