Maharashtra CM News: New CM's name to be declared by midnight; oath-taking ceremony likely on December 2, says Shiv Sena's Sanjay Shirsat

Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant responded to Congress leader Bhai Jagtap's comments on the Election Commission, urging him not to make such statements. He suggested that if Jagtap suspects issues with the EVMs, he should request a random EVM check, adding that the truth would be revealed. Samant also called for action against such remarks.

Shiv Sena leader Deepak Kesarkar has called for Congress leader Bhai Jagtap to apologize for his remarks against the Election Commission. Speaking to ANI, Kesarkar emphasized that the Election Commission is a constitutional authority and that strict action should be taken against Jagtap for his statement.

AAP leader Somnath Bharti condemned Congress leader Bhai Jagtap's derogatory comment about the Election Commission, calling it "unparliamentary." He emphasized that while criticism is a part of democracy, maintaining the dignity of language is essential.

Congress leader Bhai Jagtap ignited controversy by calling the Election Commission of India a “dog” following the Maharashtra election defeat. He remarked, “The Election Commission is like a dog, behaving as such, sitting outside Narendra Modi’s bungalow,” alleging that agencies are being misused. His comments were widely condemned by other political leaders.

On Eknath Shinde's departure to his hometown in Satara amid the new CM talks, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat says, "Whenever Eknath Shinde thinks that he needs some time to think he goes to his native village. When he has to make a big decision he goes to his native village. By tomorrow evening Eknath Shinde will take a very big decision...". Eknath Shinde will not go to Delhi. He is more interested in Maharashtra politics than Delhi politics, he added

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat said PM Modi and Amit Shah will decide the next CM of Maharashtra, likely to be announced by today midnight. He said, Maharashtra leaders gathered at Union Home Minister Amit Shah's residence yestreday. PM Modi and Amit Shah will decide who the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra will be. The CM’s name should be announced by midnight today. He also said that the oath-taking ceremony is expected to be on December 2.

Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole raised concerns about the voting percentage, questioning discrepancies in the numbers reported by the Election Commission. He said, "On November 20th, at 5 pm, the voting percentage was reported as 58%, but by 11:59 pm, it had increased to 65.2%. This raises the question of where the long queues were that would account for this increase. We have requested the Election Commission to provide videos of voters in these queues. The next day at 3 pm, the voting percentage was revised to 66.5%, an increase of 1.3% from the previous day. We want to ask the Election Commission where this voting took place," Patole said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, as quoted by news agency ANI.

Responding to Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve's statement, Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey said, "Ambadas Danve is a highly experienced leader, and if he claims that declaring Uddhav Thackeray as the CM face in the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance would have benefitted us, he is correct. Uddhav Thackeray did excellent work during the Covid crisis, and it would have been advantageous for us. Congress should reflect on why they did not announce a CM face. We've already seen that in 2014, the BJP won the election by campaigning with PM Modi as their face. Similarly, Congress lost elections in Haryana and Maharashtra due to their overconfidence."

The oath-taking ceremony for the Mahayuti government is likely to be held on December 5, as speculation around the Maharashtra CM position persists.

Speaking on the topic of government formation and Maharashtra CM position, BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar said, CM will be from Mahayuti and Maharashtra. The CM will lead Maharashtra's progress and uphold the vision of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Regarding the Mahayuti leaders' meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi, he said, before the oath-taking ceremony of the new government, a discussion takes place in which talks towards finding a solution takes place. He claimed that this will be the fastest oath-taking ceremony for a Maharashtra government in the past 20 years.

The uncertainty over the formation of the Maharashtra government is likely to persist for at least two more days, as an important Mahayuti meeting in Mumbai has been canceled and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has gone to his hometown in Satara. In response to these developments, Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant clarified that the Maharashtra caretaker CM was not displeased with anything and had gone to his village for personal reasons.

Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant stated that the party has urged Eknath Shinde to accept the deputy CM role in Maharashtra as the discussion over the CM position continues

As CM Eknath Shinde headed to his native village in Sitara on Friday amid ongoing Mahayuti discussions about government formation, Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant clarified that Shinde was not displeased with anything, reports News18

Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant stated that the BJP will announce its legislative party leader within the next two days, and a clear picture will emerge shortly, as per News18 reports

Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske stated, "During a press conference two days ago, CM Eknath Shinde made it clear that we are not seeking the Chief Minister's position. We fully support the decisions made by the leaders of Mahayuti. Unlike Uddhav Thackeray, we will not abandon the alliance for the sake of the chair. Yesterday, a meeting took place at Union Home Minister Amit Shah's residence, where the focus was solely on the development, prosperity, and well-being of Maharashtra. We also emphasized the importance of the central government's continued support for the state's progress, just as it has done so far, and made this request to Amit Shah on behalf of the people of Maharashtra."

Sources confirmed that the Mahayuti leaders’ meeting in Mumbai scheduled for today has been cancelled and Eknath Shinde has left for his native village in Satara

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat confirmed on Friday that if the party’s head, Eknath Shinde, does not accept the position of deputy chief minister in the upcoming Maharashtra government, the role will be given to another leader from the Shiv Sena.

Speaking to reporters, Shirsat also reiterated that Shinde will not be heading to the Centre as a Union minister.

The process of forming the new government in Maharashtra is expected to officially begin once the BJP announces its legislature party leader. Shinde’s meeting with Amit Shah in New Delhi this week, along with discussions involving his deputies, Devendra Fadnavis (BJP) and Ajit Pawar (NCP), indicates that talks are ongoing, but a final decision has yet to be made.

Shinde has repeatedly stressed that he will not obstruct the process of government formation and will abide by the decisions made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the next Chief Minister.

Shinde had initially stated that a key meeting of the Mahayuti alliance would be held in Mumbai on Friday. However, according to a PTI report citing sources, the meeting will now be rescheduled to Sunday, as the caretaker CM travels to Satara.

Maharashtra’s outgoing Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, returned to Mumbai on Friday morning from New Delhi, amid growing uncertainty over his successor. Shinde is traveling to his native village, Dare, in Satara district, as the suspense over government formation continues following the assembly poll results.

Shiv Sena leader Shambhuraj Desai stated, "We have presented the views of Shiv Sena leaders to the senior leaders of the Mahayuti, including Amit Shah. The Mahayuti leaders will either meet in Maharashtra or, if needed, the senior leaders in Delhi will work towards a resolution. During the meeting, discussions were held on the election victory, the formation of the government, and who will take on which role. A final solution is expected to be reached in the next one or two days."

National President of the Rashtriya Lok Manch (RLM), Upendra Kushwaha, has commented on the delay in naming a Chief Minister for Maharashtra, stating, “What is the hurry? The people have given the mandate for an NDA coalition government in Maharashtra. If the decision is delayed by two days, it doesn’t make any difference.”

Sources also indicated that the oath-taking ceremony for the new government is now unlikely to take place before December 7. The delay suggests that more deliberations are required among the alliance leaders before a final announcement is made. (From News18)

After today’s meeting in Mumbai, key leaders from the Mahayuti alliance are scheduled to reconvene in the national capital on Monday for further discussions, sources told CNN News18. The meeting, which will be crucial for finalizing key decisions, is expected to shape the next steps in the political landscape of Maharashtra.

Union Minister and BJP leader Dr Bhagwat Karad stated that the decision on the Chief Minister for Maharashtra will be made collectively by leaders of all three parties, with a final decision expected by next week. He assured that the government will be stable and work for the public. As a BJP member, Karad expressed his belief that the CM should come from his party, emphasizing his full confidence in the outcome.

According to CNN-News18, the BJP is set to secure the Chief Minister and Speaker posts, along with key portfolios such as revenue. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena is expected to be allotted the Deputy CM post. However, sources suggest Shinde is pushing for the urban development ministry but has been offered the public works and education departments by the BJP.

Caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is reportedly not enthusiastic about accepting the Deputy Chief Minister's post in the next Maharashtra government. Sources told News 18 that that Shinde is considering recommending his son, Shrikant Shinde, for the position instead.

According to a report by News18, the Maharashtra CM swearing-in will be held on December 2.

BJP MP Arun Govil has responded to Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut's remarks, stating, "When Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut were in power, was it true that everything was happening from Delhi? Today, if they haven't won, it's unfair to make such statements. One should maintain dignity and reflect on what they did when they were in power."

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has criticized the political dynamics in Maharashtra, stating, "All decisions related to Maharashtra will be made in Delhi. Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar will have to repeatedly approach Delhi to present their issues and listen to PM Modi and Amit Shah." He also mocked Ajit Pawar's role, suggesting that he would continue to serve as Deputy CM, and sarcastically remarked that the return of Pawar's "brightness" was due to EVMs. Raut further suggested creating a "3-murti" temple with EVM at the center, flanked by images of PM Modi and Amit Shah.

Karnataka Deputy CM and Congress leader DK Shivakumar has raised doubts over the stability of Maharashtra's government, stating, "They don't have clarity. They have not fought on collective leadership. I think the government will not last for a long time."

In Mumbai, nine of the city's 36 seats were secured by first-time candidates. Among these, Mahesh Sawant of Shiv Sena (UBT) made a notable victory by defeating MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s son Amit Thackeray and incumbent Shiv Sena MLA Sada Sarvankar in Mahim. Varun Desai, also from Sena (UBT), triumphed in Vandre East, defeating NCP’s Zeeshan Siddique.

Other first-time winners include Sena (UBT) candidates Manoj Jamsutkar from Byculla, Anant Nar from Jogeshwari East, and Haroon Khan from Versova. BJP’s Sanjay Upadhyay, who won from Borivali, and Murji Patel, contesting on a Shiv Sena ticket from Andheri East, are also among the debutants. Sana Malik from NCP won in Anushaktinagar, while Congress’s Jyoti Gaikwad claimed victory in Dharavi.

(With inputs from PTI)

Of the 78 newcomers, 33 are from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), 14 from the Shiv Sena, and 8 from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The Shiv Sena (UBT) contributes 10 new faces, while the Congress and NCP (SP) bring 6 and 4 first-time MLAs, respectively. Additionally, two first-time winners represent smaller parties, and one independent candidate will make his debut in the Assembly.

(With inputs from PTI)

According to sources speaking to NDTV, Thursday's meeting focused on finalising the composition of the new cabinet. The maximum number of ministers the state can have is 42, with the proposed division allocating 22 ministries to the BJP, 12 to the Shiv Sena, and 10 to Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Sources also indicated that the BJP is pushing for key portfolios, including the crucial Home Ministry.

This cabinet arrangement reflects the seat-sharing agreement and the results of the recent election, where the BJP secured the highest number of seats, winning 132, thereby strengthening its claim to the Chief Minister's position.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has denied any internal differences within the Mahayuti alliance, stating that the coalition has always made decisions collectively. Fadnavis added that the decision regarding the Chief Minister's post would be finalized after consulting with the alliance leaders.

Speaking to the media, Fadnavis said, "There has never been a difference of opinion within our Mahayuti alliance. We have always made decisions collectively. Before the elections, we had announced that the decision on the Chief Minister’s post would be taken after the results. Some people had doubts, but Eknath Shinde ji has clarified those today."

The BJP emerged as the largest party in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, winning 132 seats, the highest among all the constituents of the Mahayuti alliance. Shinde’s Shiv Sena won 57 seats, while Ajit Pawar's NCP secured 41 seats.

In contrast, the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance faced a setback, with the Congress registering one of its worst performances, winning only 16 seats. Sharad Pawar’s NCP(SP) secured just 10 seats, and Uddhav Thackeray’s UBT won 20 seats.

Shinde praised the coordination among the alliance partners, describing the meeting with Shah and Nadda as positive and productive. He assured that the government would be formed soon in line with the people’s mandate.

"We discussed the formation of the government. There is good coordination among the allies, and we are all very positive. We will honor the clear mandate given to us by the people," Shinde stated.

Shinde, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, met Shah and Nadda on Thursday night to discuss the power-sharing agreement for the next government. The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a decisive victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections.

"We have held discussions, and more talks will continue. The final decision will be made soon, and you will know when it happens," Shinde said.

Eknath Shinde on Friday stated that he had "good and positive" discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President J P Nadda regarding the formation of the new government in the state. Speaking to reporters before his departure for Mumbai, Shinde said that the decision on the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra will be made "in a day or two" after further talks among the Mahayuti coalition leaders in Mumbai.

BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis took to X on Friday to thank Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his support during the Maharashtra Assembly elections. Fadnavis praised Shah for inspiring and motivating the party workers, calling him a key figure in the success of the elections. The post also mentioned the presence of BJP National President JP Nadda, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, NCP leader Ajit Pawar, and other MahaYuti leaders during the occasion in New Delhi.

Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has termed his meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda in New Delhi as “good and positive.”

“This was our first discussion. We spoke about various matters, and there will be a follow-up meeting in Mumbai with the Mahayuti leadership to finalize the next Chief Minister,” Shinde said, hinting at a critical decision on the state’s leadership in the coming days.

The decks appear cleared for Devendra Fadnavis to make a comeback as Maharashtra’s Chief Minister. Eknath Shinde of the Shiv Sena has all but withdrawn his claim to the top post, stating in a press briefing on Thursday that the decision now rests with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. This move effectively paves the way for Fadnavis to emerge as the BJP’s leading candidate.

Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday said that for him the ‘ladla bhai’ designation holds more importance than anything else. He also reiterated that there are no obstacles regarding the Maharashtra CM post.

“I cleared my role in the press conference yesterday that there are no obstacles regarding Chief Minister of Mahayuti. This ‘ladla bhai’ has arrived in Delhi … the ‘ladla bhai’ is a designation higher than anything else for me. A meeting will be held on everything,” Shinde said as he arrived in Delhi to attend the key Mahayuti meeting at Union home minister Amit Shah’s residence.