GAMEAPE

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar Photo: PTI Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar Photo: PTI

Amid the ongoing suspense over the next chief ministerial face of the statevipph, Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced on Saturday that the new CM will take oath on Thursday, December 5.

Moreover, according to Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, the next chief minister will be from the BJP and there will be two deputy chief ministers from other Mahayuti constituents.

Commenting on who will be the chief minister of the state, Pawar said, "Thestate will have one chief minister from BJP and two deputies from other two parties of Mahayuti. Tentatively, the oath taking ceremony will take place on December 5. We have decided to move ahead with a strong vision."

The development came a day after the Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde headed straight to his native village from Delhi, cancelling the Mumbai meeting on Friday.

There were speculations that he was upset about the stalemate over the top post. Shinde-led Shiv Sena, however, dismissed the claims clarifying that the party chief went to his village as he was unwell. The party also said that a meeting is likely to happen on Saturday.

“He isn’t upset. He is unwell. It’s not fair to say he went there because he was upset. He said he wouldn’t cry but would fight for the welfare and development of the state. These predictions are wrong,” India Today quoted outgoing state Minister Uday Samant. 

“Tomorrow (Saturday), he will return, and it’s not as if meetings can only happen physically. It can also take place through video conferencing or mobile communication. As Eknath Shinde has said, the Maharashtra cabinet will be finalized soon,” Samant said on Friday.

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With the final decision on portfolios and the CM position yet to be announced, there is a tussle between BJP-Sena over the state home minister and general administration portfolio. Eknath Shinde has, reportedly, demanded key portfolios like the State Home Ministry along with the Deputy Chief Minister's post, similar to BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis, who held the Home Ministry while serving as Deputy Chief Minister. Shinde also wants Shiv Sena to head the Finance Ministry and Speaker post.

If the BJP does not agree with the demands of key portfolios, then the Shinde-led Shiv Sena will give “external support” to the BJP-NCP government, the party sources told Outlook India. However, there is no clarity about what this external support means.

Earlier, Shinde-aide and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat had hinted that the caretaker CM might not accept the Deputy CM post. However, Uday Samant said on Friday that all 60 MLAs together have conveyed a message to Shinde ji that they want him to become the Deputy Chief Minister. “It is important for him to remain in the government as he introduced the Ladli Behan Yojana. Therefore, his presence in the government is crucial. Once again, there will be a meeting between Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde, and Ajit Pawar, during which the cabinet expansion will be discussed in detail,” Samant said. “Eknath Shinde ji himself will make the decision.”

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Sanjay Shirsat said that the oath-taking ceremony of the next chief minister of Maharashtravipph, who is yet to be declared, will be held on December 2. On the other hand, the BJP leaders are saying the new CM is likely to take oath on December 5. A major announcement from Eknath Shinde is expected by Saturday evening.

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