A crucial meeting of the Mahayuti alliance regarding the formation of new Maharashtra government has been called off after caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde unexpectedly left for his village in Satara district. 

Earlier on Thursday, Eknath Shinde along with BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis and NCP leader Ajit Pawar met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda in Delhi. The meeting focussed on hashing out a power-sharing pact following the BJP-led coalition’s sweeping victory in the recent Maharashtra assembly elections. 

Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde on Friday said that he had good and positive discussions with Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief J P Nadda on the issue of government formation in the state. Speaking to the media, he said that the decision on the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra will be taken in a day or two in another meeting of Mahayuti coalition in the state capital.

The Shiv Sena leader further said that he would not be an obstacle in the government formation in the state and abide by the decision taken by PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. However, Eknath Shinde’s sudden departure brought discussions to a halt, further strengthening suspense over who will helm the incoming government and ministerial berth allocations. Reports stated that the Shiv Sena leader is expected to return to Mumbai on Saturday. 

The BJP, which won 132 seats in the assembly election, is yet to chair its legislature party meeting to finalise its chief ministerial candidate, but the top post is widely expected to go to Devendra Fadnavis. The Mahayuti allies Shiv Sena, with 57 seats, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP, with 41, are reportedly focusing on securing plum cabinet berths instead, as their chances of claiming the chief minister’s post appear slim.

Reports said that the new government may adopt a power-sharing arrangement featuring two deputy chief ministers to represent Mahayuti’s three major constituents. Meanwhile, for cabinet berths, the BJP is looking to accommodate around 20 ministers, with the Sena expected to receive a larger share than the NCP.

The Congress on Thursday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s entire focus is not on reducing inflation, but on showing low inflation figures, stating that a government focused on propaganda and data manipulation cannot be trusted to work for the welfare of the people.

Congress general secretary for communications Jairam Ramesh said that India has experienced ten years of Modi-made inflation, which was due to the poor policy of the government.

“The Prime Minister’s focus is not on curbing inflation but on portraying it as low. The government is actively attempting to manipulate the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Wholesale Price Index (WPI) statistics to suggest that inflation is under control, while in reality, ordinary citizens are faced with relentless price increases,” Ramesh said in a statement shared on X.

He highlighted that the surge in prices, especially for food, fuel, and everyday necessities, has imposed a significant burden on working-class and middle-class families in India. Despite a decline in global crude oil prices, petrol and diesel remain costly in India, exacerbating transportation and service costs, Ramesh noted.

“Food inflation remains a critical issue, contributing to the overall inflation levels. The government is now considering reducing the weightage of food items in the CPI, which is a tactic to obscure the real effects of inflation, showing a preference for manipulating uncomfortable data instead of addressing the issue,” he explained.

Ramesh added that this proposed change in CPI weightage is not only dishonest but will also adversely affect the incomes of an estimated 3-4 crore individuals, including government and semi-government employees. He pointed out that dearness allowance and salary increases have already diminished compared to the period under the UPA government, and further declines are expected.

“This is not a new occurrence. The Modi government has consistently attempted to mislead the public with data manipulation. For instance, when the BJP government lagged behind the UPA in GDP growth, it sought to artificially inflate the growth figures by altering the base year,” he stated, noting similar tactics in relation to job creation promises.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday that her government will go with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government’s decision, after the arrest of an ISKCON priest in Bangladesh in a sedition case.

Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, an ISKCON priest, was arrested after a sedition case was filed against him and 18 others on October 31. The charges were linked to the hoisting of a saffron flag above Bangladesh’s official flag during the October 25 rally at Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram.

Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, Banerjee expressed concern over the developing situation in the neighbouring country. The chief minister emphasised that she preferred not to comment on the matter, as it pertains to another country.

She clarified that the issue was for the central government to address, and her state government would abide by its decision.

“Bangladesh is a different country. The government of India will look into it. It does not come under our jurisdiction. We are not supposed to talk about it or interfere. While we feel sorry inside, we follow the policies set by the Centre,” she said.

Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress supremo, also mentioned that she had spoken with representatives of ISKCON on the matter, but did not elaborate further.

Following the arrest of the priest, members of Hindu Mahasabha on Thursday staged a march towards Bangladesh’s deputy high commission protesting against the ongoing atrocities against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. A police personnel got injured after a scuffle broke out between the police and members of Hindu Mahasabha.

Earlier today in Kolkata, ISKCON volunteers organised a Kirtan protest against the arrest of ISKCON priest Chinmoy Das by Dhaka police.

“We want a united Bangladesh,” said the priest, arrested by Bangladeshi authorities, in a message from a prison van on Tuesday. Addressing his followers outside the Chittagong court, the ISKCON priest, who enjoys massive popularity in the country, urged his supporters to remain peaceful and avoid disrupting public order.

Communication Director, ISKCON, Vrajendra Nandan Das said: “If an institution like ISKCON is called a terrorist and radical organisation in Bangladesh, it’s a baseless thing and a lie. No one – in India and around the world will accept this. Those devotees who organised Bhandara and fed needy people – were killed. I hope that the interim govt of Bangladesh will take strict action against the culprits and I expect them to give proper security to Hindus.”

In a statement, Bangladesh ISKCON general secretary Charu Chandra Das condemned the violence that happened after Chinmoy Das’s arrest. ISKCON requests the government of Bangladesh that all the “Sanatanis should be allowed to leave peacefully and peaceful coexistence must be promoted.”

“Chinmoy Das is a Bangladeshi citizen. He has always advocated the protection of minorities in Bangladesh,” he added.

Meanwhile, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday backed the arrested Hindu leader, Chinmoy Krishna Das.

She called for the immediate release of the priest. She asked the Bangladesh government to protect religious and ethnic minorities that have braved violence since her ouster from power in August.