Eknath Shinde holds ‘positive’ talks with Amit Shah, JP Nadda, decision on next Maharashtra CM 'in a day or two'

Shinde said that he would not be an obstacle in the government formation in the state

After meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP chief JP Nadda in Delhi, Maharashtra caretaker chief minister Eknath Shinde said he had “good and positive” discussions with them on the issue of government formation in the state. He added that another meeting of the Mahayuti coalition would be held in a day or two to take a decision on the next chief minister of the state.

Together with deputy chief ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, Shinde met Shah and Nadda late Thursday to thrash out a power-sharing pact for the next government in Maharashtra after the BJP-led coalition registered a thumping majority in the Assembly elections.

“We will take a decision (on Maharashtra CM) in a day or two. We have held discussions, and the discussions will continue. You will get to know when we take a final decision," the outgoing chief minister said.

Shinde said that he would not be an obstacle in the government formation in the state and abide by the decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah.

"This 'ladka bhau' (beloved brother) designation is higher than anything else for me," he said.

Shinde said the meeting with Shah and Nadda was "good and positive".

"We all discussed the formation of government. There is good coordination between the allies, we are all very positive and we will honour the clear-cut mandate given to us by the people. We will form the government soon," he said.

"The meeting was good and positive. This was the first meeting. There will be another meeting of the Mahayuti in Mumbai," Shinde told reporters early Friday.

The Maharashtra Assembly election results were declared on November 23, but the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is yet to finalise its choice for chief minister.

In the polls, BJP emerged as the single largest party with 132 seats in the 280 member Maharashtra Assembly. Its allies – the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde and the NCP led by Ajit Pawar – bagged 57 and 41 seats respectively.

(With inputs from agencies)