Eknath Shinde leaves for home after talks in Delhi, Sena says he is not upset amid speculations of rift in Mahayuti
Mumbai/IBNS: The crucial meeting with Amit Shah to decide who will become the next chief minister of Maharashtra concluded in New Delhi on Thursday, and if reports are to be believed, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis will most certainly head the state.
However, reports suggest all is not well in the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, as a meeting to finalise the details has been cancelled.
According to reports, outgoing chief minister Eknath Shinde has headed to his village in Satara and the meetings will be held after his return. His sudden plan to leave the national capital has fueled speculation that he was unhappy about the government formation talks.
Eknath Shinde, who was in the race for the top post in Maharashtra, earlier said that he left the decision to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Shinde said: "I have told PM Modi that I would not be an obstacle. We would go with whatever he decides."
While Fadnavis is likely to take oath as CM, Mahayuti's alliance partners will have two deputy CMs, each from Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party.
The new arrangement clearly shows how the Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as a dominant force following its thumping victory in last week's Maharashtra elections.
The Mahayuti comprising Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena (Shinde camp) and Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) won a massive 230 of 288 seats.
Out of 230, the BJP dominated with a tremendous strike rate, winning 132, the highest ever by the saffron party in the state.
Soon after the results were declared, Shinde, as per reports, remained firm in continuing as the Chief Minister.
On Tuesday, Eknath Shinde resigned as per norms before the formation of a new government
He will continue as the caretaker Chief Minister till the oath-taking ceremony.