The BJP on Monday appointed Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani as central observers for its legislature meeting in Maharashtra to select its leader. This comes amid ongoing suspense over Maharashtra’s next Chief Minister.

More than a week after the BJP-led NDA, also called Mahayuti, secured a landslide win in the Maharashtra assembly elections, the new government is yet to be sworn in. BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis is expected to be elected as the legislature party leader in a meeting scheduled for December 3. Reportedly, all BJP MLAs have been directed to be present in Mumbai for the event.

In the Assembly Elections, the Mahayuti alliance secured 230 out of 288 assembly seats, with the BJP winning 132 seats, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena claiming 57, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP taking 41 seats. The oath-taking ceremony for the new government is set for the evening of December 5 at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, with Prime Minister Modi in attendance.

Notably, the BJP is proceeding cautiously as the aspirations of its allies, especially the Shiv Sena, have risen following the massive election victory. Despite Eknath Shinde’s push for unity within the Mahayuti, some allied leaders have expressed differing views.

Former Union minister and BJP leader Raosaheb Danve said that if the undivided Shiv Sena and BJP had contested the elections together, they would have secured more seats. Shiv Sena MLA Gulabrao Patil also claimed that the Eknath Shinde-led party would have won 90-100 seats had Ajit Pawar’s NCP not been part of the alliance, provoking a strong response from the Ajit Pawar-led party.

The BJP legislature party meeting to elect the leader, who will be the party’s chief ministerial pick, is yet to be held even though Shiv Sena and NCP have elected Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar as their legislature party leaders, respectively. Meanwhile, a senior Mahayuti leader said the allies will jointly decide whether only the Chief Minister and deputy CMs will take oath on December 5 or ministers will also be sworn in.

The conundrum over finalising the next Maharashtra Chief Minister continues after 10 days as caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde cancelled his meetings today as he was unwell. Earlier on November 29, the Shiv Sena leader cancelled a crucial meeting of Mahayuti, and unexpectedly left for his village in Satara district. Meanwhile, NCP leader Ajit Pawar headed to Delhi to meet with top BJP leadership over government formation.

Reportedly, Eknath Shinde, who was supposed to attend a meeting of Mahayuti leaders to finalise the portfolio allocations, is down with a throat infection and fever. The Shiv Sena leader did not return to his official residence, Varsha, and had been staying in his native village in Satara over the weekend. The meeting is scheduled to be held on Tuesday.

The Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP, swept the November 20 Maharashtra Assembly election, winning 230 of 288 seats, the results of which were declared on November 23. The BJP secured a massive 132 seats, while Shinde Sena and NCP’s Ajit Pawar faction got 57 and 41 seats, respectively. Reportedly, Ajit Pawar may discuss the Maharashtra government formation and portfolio allocations with the top BJP leadership in Delhi today.

In another major development, Eknath Shinde’s son and Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde rejected reports of a demand for the Deputy Chief Minister post for him. Shrikant Shinde called the reports baseless rumours and said he was not in any race for any ministerial post in Maharashtra.

His clarification came after speculation arose that he would be considered for the Deputy Chief Minister’s post. Taking to X, Shrikant Shinde wrote that the swearing-in ceremony of the coalition government has been a bit delayed and currently there is a lot of discussion and rumours. He added that caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde went to the village for two days and rested due to ill health, and so the rumours flourished. 

He continued that the news that he will be the Deputy Chief Minister has no truth in it and is baseless. The Shiv Sena MP mentioned that he got the chance to become a Cabinet minister after the NDA’s victory in the Lok Sabha elections and asserted he had no desire for a position in power.

He stated that after the Lok Sabha elections, he had a chance to become a minister in the central government. However, he thought about working for the party and refused the ministerial post even then. He added that he is not in the race for any ministerial position in the state.

The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Monday called off its planned march to violence-hit Sambhal following a standoff with police outside the party office in Lucknow. Uttar Pradesh Congress Chief Ajay Rai said that the march was postponed after authorities cited restrictions on entry of outsiders in Sambhal until December 10.

Ajai Rai said that the DCP and other police officials have said that they will inform the Congress when the restrictions are lifted. He added that the day the police inform them, a delegation of the Congress party will visit Sambhal.

Reportedly, chaos erupted outside the UP Congress office when police blocked a delegation led by Ajai Rai from departing for Sambhal. Security personnel stopped Rai’s car at the office gate, leading to protests from party workers who shouted slogans and created a commotion.

Ajai Rai and other leaders sat down and staged a protest outside the party office after police prevented them from leaving. The leaders raised slogans against the authorities, accusing them of obstructing their efforts to assess the situation in Sambhal.

Earlier on Monday, the UP Congress chief said he would defy a police order and visit Sambhal, despite heavy security measures. The decision comes after UP Police issued a notice to Rai, citing potential law and order issues.

Ajai Rai said that the police have issued him a notice and asked him to postpone the visit, but the Congress will go peacefully to understand the situation and the atrocities committed by the police and the government.

The state Congress chief also criticised the administration’s decision to extend the ban on outsiders entering Sambhal until December 10, and accused the BJP-led government of extending restrictions to obstruct their fact-finding mission. He pledged to proceed with the trip, citing the need to investigate alleged police brutality and government injustice.

Violence in Sambhal has simmered since a court-ordered survey of Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid on November 19, prompted by claims it was originally a Hindu temple. The clashes between protesters and police on November 24 left four people dead.

A three-member judicial committee inspected the site on Sunday, gathering statements from residents and officials.