Devendra Fadnavis' name finalised for Maharashtra CM's post, says BJP leader: Report

Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis (Courtesy: PTI photo)

Amid the suspense over the Chief Ministerial face in Maharashtra, a senior BJP leader speaking on condition of anonymity told news agency PTI that the name of senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis has been finalised as the new chief minister of Maharashtra.

He told PTI that the BJP legislature party meeting will be held on either December 2 or 3. The oath-taking ceremony of the new Mahayuti government will take place on December 5 evening at the Azad Maidan in south Mumbai and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend it.Fadnavis had served as chief minister twice- the second stint lasting for a few days. He was deputy CM in the outgoing Eknath Shinde-led government.

While there was no announcement yet on who would be the chief minister, BJP sources said Devendra Fadnavis, who has been chief minister twice and was deputy CM in the last Eknath Shinde-led government, was the frontrunner for the post.

Earlier in the day,Eknath Shinde said that the Mahayuti alliance's chief minister candidate will be decided tomorrow and reiterated that he has already given his "unconditional support" to the decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda.

Speaking to reporters in Satara, Shinde said, "I am feeling better now. I came here to rest after the busy election schedule. I didn't take any leave during my two and half years as Chief Minister. People are still visiting me here. This government will listen to the people. I have already given my unconditional support to the decision of the Prime Minister, Home Minister and BJP President and I will support whatever they decide for Maharashtra."

Shinde, also highlighted unity among Mahayuti leaders, stating, "Our government's work over the past two and a half years will be remembered in history. This is why the people gave us a historic mandate and denied the opposition even the chance to elect a Leader of the Opposition. All three allies of the Mahayuti have a good understanding. The Chief Minister candidate will be decided tomorrow," he said.

The Mahayuti alliance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) retained power with a landslide victory in the assembly elections, the results of which were announced on November 23.

While the simple majority figure in the 288-member House is 145, the BJP alone bagged 132 seats, followed by Shiv Sena with 57 and NCP with 41 seats. But the government formation was delayed as the alliance failed to evolve consensus on who would be the chief minister.

*With Agency Inputs