Mahayuti leaders hold 'positive' meeting in Delhi, suspense over Maharashtra CM on

Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Devendra Fadnavis and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)'s Ajit Pawar met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday.

BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda was also present in the meeting.

Fadnavis, a former Maharashtra Chief Minister, posted on X, "Expressed my gratitude to Hon Union Minister Shri Amitbhai Shah, for his huge support on the battlefield during the important Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha Elections 2024 and for the way he greatly inspired and motivated the karykartas.

"On this occasion, our BJP National President JP Nadda ji, Eknath Shinde ji, Ajitdada Pawar, #MahaYuti leaders, colleagues were present too, in New Delhi."

Shinde said as quoted by Hindustan Times, "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."

The next meeting is likely to be held on Sunday.

Shinde, who is in the race for the top post in Maharashtra, on Wednesday said he has left the decision to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

If media reports are to be believed, the politically crucial state of Maharashtra will have a BJP face as its next chief minister.

Mahayuti's alliance partners will have deputy CMs from Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party.

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."

He also added that "no one is upset" and that he is "not greedy for any position".

The suspense over the CM's post started after the Mahayuti decimated the Maha Vikas Aghadi in the November 20 assembly elections.

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.

BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, however, denied any tussle within the coalition over the post and said the Mahayuti leaders would take a call on the matter.

Fadnavis, who remained the Chief Minister from 2014-2019, served as Shinde's deputy in the Mahayuti government.