Maharashtra CM News November 26 Highlights: No clarity yet on who will get the top post

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde resigned on Tuesday in a constitutional obligation, paving the way for appointing a new government amidst intense negotiations within the Mahayuti alliance on who would take the top post -- BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis or Shinde -- the Shiv Sena head.

Shinde, accompanied by Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, the two deputy chief ministers in the previous government, met with Governor C P Radhakrishnan, who asked the Shiv Sena leader to remain in a caretaker capacity until a new Chief Minister is sworn in.

The urgency of the situation arose because the outgoing assembly's term ended on Tuesday (November 26) .

Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde on Tuesday stepped down as Maharashtra Chief Minister, even as the suspense over who will succeed him as the new CM continued, three days after state assembly election results were announced.

In Delhi, Union minister Ramdas Athawale said the BJP leadership has decided to make Devendra Fadnavis as the CM for the third time, but there was no confirmation on this from the BJP.

Shinde and Fadnavis were together early Tuesday morning at an event in the Mumbai police commissioner’s office to pay tributes to martyrs of the 26/11 terror attack, but hardly exchanged a word.

Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde on Tuesday stepped down as Maharashtra Chief Minister, even as the suspense over who will succeed him as the new CM continued, three days after state assembly election results were announced.

In Delhi, Union minister Ramdas Athawale said the BJP leadership has decided to make Devendra Fadnavis as the CM for the third time, but there was no confirmation on this from the BJP.

Shinde and Fadnavis were together early Tuesday morning at an event in the Mumbai police commissioner’s office to pay tributes to martyrs of the 26/11 terror attack, but hardly exchanged a word.

• Maharashtra Assembly elections result was declared on November 23. However, the suspense and internal tussle between the Mahayuti allies continue over who will take the coveted chair of the chief minister for the richest state in the country.
• Amid the uncertainty over the top post, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat has said there will be clarity on the issue by Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. (Read More)

Maharashtra BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule says, "...This is a Mahayuti government. The government is going to come for 14 crore people. Some time is being taken but it is in the interest of the people, in the interest of Maharashtra. Our central leadership and the three leaders of Maharashtra will sit and a suitable decision will be taken..."

On Maharashtra's CM face, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut says, "The CM will be decided by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and PM Narendra Modi. Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar cannot make decisions for their parties on their own. These two parties are slaves of Amit Shah and PM Modi and are sub-companies of the BJP. Currently, the BJP has a majority...They can break Eknath Shinde's and Ajit Pawar's parties for the majority...According to me, Devendra Fadnavis will be the next CM."

Eknath Shinde, who tendered his resignation on Tuesday, has been asked to serve as the caretaker chief minister till a new government is sworn in. The term of the Maharashtra assembly ends on November 26.

Even as the Mahayuti alliance witnessed a landslide victory in the recent Assembly polls,  with the BJP emerging as the largest party by winning 132 seats -- the alliance is yet to decide on a chief minister to lead the government.

Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde tendered his resignation as CM to Governor CP Radhakrishnan, at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai.

Deputy CMs Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis were also present.

Mahayuti alliance consisting BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP emerged victorious in Maharashtra assembly elections.

Mahayuti leaders - EKnath Shinde, Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis have reached raj Bhavan. Eknath Shinde is likely to resign.

• Maharashtra Government Formation Live Updates: Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has urged supporters not to gather at his official residence, 'Varsha,' in South Mumbai to advocate for his continuation as CM.
• Taking to X, he wrote: "I deeply appreciate the love and support shown by some who have called for gatherings in my favor. However, I sincerely request that no one assemble in this manner to express their support."

Eknath Shinde is likely to resign today, say latest reports. However, he will continue as the 'caretaker' Chief Minister till the new government is sworn in.

Devendra Fadnavis, seen as the frontrunner in the CM race, is in Delhi at the moment. He reached Delhi late night yesterday is likely to meet the BJP's top brass today.

The political landscape in Maharashtra remains dynamic as Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has appealed to his supporters to refrain from gathering at his official residence, 'Varsha,' or any other location to advocate for his continuation as Chief Minister. This comes amidst discussions within the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance about the state's top leadership following their landslide victory in the assembly elections.

Taking to microblogging site X, Shinde expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support but urged restraint, stating, "After the great victory of the Mahayuti alliance, our government will be formed once again in the state. As a grand alliance, we contested the election together and are still together today."

Sources within the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) indicate that the organisation is favouring Fadnavis due to his "impeccable Sangh credentials" and his demonstrated leadership during his previous term, according to a News18 report. Fadnavis, known for his close association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and his tenure as the former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, is reportedly being considered as a strong contender for the state's top post again.

Suspense over who will be Maharashtra’s next chief minister continued on Monday, two days after the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti won a landslide victory in the assembly elections, shattering the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi’s dream to wrest power.

The formation of a new government in Maharashtra, which appeared likely immediately after the BJP-led coalition’s thumping victory, has been delayed due to Shiv Sena’s insistence that Eknath Shinde continue as the chief minister, sources said.

Several Shiv Sainiks organised prayer meets in temples in Thane to ensure Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde gets a second term on the top post.The Mahayuti, comprising Shinde's Shiv Sena, BJP and Ajit Pawar-led NCP swept the November 20 assembly polls, results of which were announced on November 23.

However, the alliance is yet to zero in on who will be chief minister, with current Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis being the frontrunner due to the 132 seats won by the BJP, which is just 12 short of the halfway mark in the 288-member assembly. The Shiv Sena won 57, while Pawar's NCP got 41seats. Prayers were held in Siddhi Vinayak Temple in Kashish Park locality, with many women claiming the Mahayuti sweep was due to the CM's connect with the masses, his accessibility and the Ladki Bahin Yojana. Puja was also held at Daulat Nagar in Thane East, Shiv Sena functionaries said.

Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on Monday dismissed as "rumours" talk of his resignation following the assembly polls debacle and stressed on "collective accountability" for the defeat.

Patole made the remarks after meeting Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge during which he conveyed that the result had not reflected the sentiments of the people of Maharashtra.

"Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and other national and state leaders were leading Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) from the forefront during the assembly polls. So, we were sure that the trends were in favour of Maha Vikas Aghadi, even the citizens believed that," the Maharashtra Congress chief said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawant said, "Today, the elected members of Shiv Sena in Maharashtra assembly gathered. A meeting was conducted, under the chairmanship of Uddhav Thackery, the chief of the party. Bhaskar Jadhav has been elected as the leader of the party in the Legislative Assembly, as well as Sunil Prabhu, has been elected as the chief whip of the party. Aaditya Thackeray has been elected as chief of the both the houses."

Current Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is likely to resign tonight, latest media reports say.

Eknath Shinde surprised everyone in June 2022 by becoming Maharashtra's Chief Minister with just forty Shiv Sena MLAs, who rebelled against Uddhav Thackeray. The largest alliance partner, the BJP, had 105 seats—more than double the number of MLAs Shinde had. However, after the recent Vidhan Sabha election results, political pundits believe Shinde's bargaining power has diminished, making it unlikely he will retain the top job. (Read More)

• Rajya Sabha MP and former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan on Monday said state Congress leaders who he claimed troubled him when he was with the grand old party have lost the just held assembly polls.
• Addressing a meeting of his supporters in Nanded, the former Congress leader said people had criticised him for joining the BJP, but the party managed to sweep the one-sided election. (PTI)

A daunting task awaits the new chief minister of Maharashtra as the incoming government will have to find around Rs 9,000 crore extra to fulfil promises laid down in the election manifesto in FY25 and over Rs 35,000 crore in the next fiscal, according to a Moneycontrol analysis. (Read More)

Maharashtra could see the imposition of President’s rule if the Mahayuti of the BJP, Shiv Sena and the NCP fail to arrive at a consensus on the alliance’s pick as the new chief minister of the state. The term of the current Assembly expires on Tuesday, November 26, marking the end of the tenure of the ruling alliance in the state. (Read More)

Speculation is mounting over the next Chief Ministerial candidate in Maharashtra, with News18 sources indicating that the winning alliance, Mahayuti, may stick to its previous strategy of appointing two Deputy Chief Ministers. It has been reported that all three alliance partners—BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP—will jointly decide on the government formation.

• hiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday demanded a re-election in Maharashtra using ballot papers, claiming there were irregularities with the electronic voting machines (EVMs).
• Talking to reporters, Raut alleged several complaints about EVMs malfunctioning and questioned the integrity of the recently held elections.
• The BJP-led Mahayuti won 230 out of 288 seats in the assembly elections, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi managed 46 seats, with Shiv Sena (UBT) winning just 20 out of 95 seats it contested. (PTI)

If the NDA partners fail to arrive at a consensus on the chief ministerial face ahead of the November 26 deadline, President's rule will be imposed in the state. "That, however, may not translate into a constitutional crisis as such since the new Assembly has already been elected and there is a clear majority with one side. In that case, President's rule could be imposed and the discussions between the NDA allies could continue," constitutional expert PDT Achary told Moneycontrol.

• Failure on part of Mahayuti constituents to come to a consensus on its chief ministerial pick by November 26, the day the term of the current Assembly expires, would automatically lead to the imposition of President's rule in Maharashtra, constitutional expert and former Secretary General of the Lok Sabha PDT Achary tells Moneycontrol.
• "Since the term of the current Assembly is concluding on November 26, there is no legal provision for the present government to continue beyond the date. Now that a new Assembly has been elected in Maharashtra, the Chief Minister has to be sworn-in before the conclusion of the term of the current Assembly. In the event this does not happen, President's rule will be imposed in the state. Since the CM is the head of the council of ministers, his swearing-in will be sufficient to assume that the new government is in place," he said.

• The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is at risk of losing its status as a recognised political party and its railway engine poll symbol after its dismal performance in the recently concluded state assembly election, where it failed to win even one seat.
• In the elections swept by the Mahayuti, none of the 125 candidates fielded by the Raj Thackeray-led party, including his son Amit Thackeray, could strike gold.
• In an informal interaction with the media, former Maharashtra legislature secretary Anant Kalse explained the Election Commission of India's criteria for a political party to retain its recognition and reserved election symbol. (PTI)

• The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is expected to support BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis as the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra following the Mahayuti alliance's decisive victory in the Assembly elections.
• A source noted, "The RSS typically refrains from intervening in the BJP's decision-making process. However, it occasionally communicates its priorities subtly, keeping the broader welfare of the state and the nation at the forefront."

• Senior NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule stated on Sunday that her party, which secured 10 seats in the Maharashtra assembly elections, respects the people's mandate and is committed to working towards a capable, inclusive, and progressive state.
• In a statement on X, the Baramati MP vowed to rebuild the party and expressed determination to move forward despite the disappointing results. Her party, along with its Maha Vikas Aghadi allies—Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT)—collectively won only 46 out of the 288 assembly seats in the state.
• “We respect and humbly accept the people's verdict in the assembly elections. This result calls for deep reflection and renewal. We will introspect, learn, and rebuild with honesty, hard work, and unwavering commitment to the values we stand for,” Sule wrote.

PSU stocks took the spotlight on Dalal Street on November 25, following the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance's victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. Shares of companies like PFC, IRFC, BEL, Central Bank of India, RVNL, Bharat Dynamics, NBCC (India), GAIL, Concor, and SAIL saw gains ranging from 3% to 8%, contributing to an overall strong market performance. (Read More)

After the debacle of the Assembly Election results, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole has resigned. The Congress shrunk to just 16 seats in the results declared on November 23.

• Unrest in MVA: NCP chief whip Anil Patil claimed on Sunday that five to six MLAs from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) might join the ruling Mahayuti alliance in the coming months.
• Statement on MLA Concerns: Patil, who retained his Amalner assembly seat, noted that some re-elected MLAs from the NCP (SP), Congress, and Sena (UBT) are unhappy and have expressed concerns about MVA's significant defeat.
• Importance of Being in Power: He emphasized that MLAs keen on development in their constituencies find it advantageous to be in power.
• Future Uncertainty: According to Patil, MVA MLAs feel their political future is uncertain, and a possible crossover to the Mahayuti within four months wouldn’t be surprising.

Shiv Sena leaders announced Eknath Shinde as the party's group leader on Sunday. During the party meeting, Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant proposed the resolution electing Shinde, which was passed unanimously.

While there is no official announcement so far, a News18 report says that NCP leader Ajit Pawar has agreed on the name of Devendra Fadnavis as the new CM. (Read More)

• In the results declared for Maharashtra Assembly Elections on Saturday, November 23, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance registered a landslide win. As per the final tally by the Election Commission of India, here's how the numbers stood
• Mahayuti Alliance - 235
• BJP - 132
• NCP - 41
• Shiv Sena - 57
• Mahavikas Aghadi - 49
• Congress - 16
• Shiv Sena (UBT) - 20
• NCP (SP) - 10
• Samajwadi Party - 2
• Others - 10

Mahayuti leaders - Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar - are set to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi today. The meeting is seen as the last moment discussion on CM's name ahead of the government formation ceremony.

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage on Maharashtra government formation. Clock is ticking for the oath-taking ceremony, which the buzz suggest, will take place in Mumbai's Shivaji Park on November 26. Incidentally, it is the same day when the term of the current Maharashtra Assembly is ending. Stay with us to know more about who will be the next CM of Maharashtra and much more.