Maharashtra Government Formation: Eknath Shinde Discharged from Hospital, Swearing-In Ceremony Preparations Underway, Who Gets What?
Mumbai, December 3, 2024 – As the Mahayuti alliance gears up for the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for December 5, caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has been discharged from Thane’s Jupiter Hospital. Shinde had been suffering from a throat infection and fever since last week.
Amid these developments, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Maharashtra chief Sunil Tatkare mentioned that Ajit Pawar might meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Preparations for the swearing-in ceremony are in full swing at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan.
While the Shiv Sena is yet to decide on the Deputy Chief Minister, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remains tight-lipped about their Chief Minister pick. Devendra Fadnavis appears to be the front-runner, with Nirmala Sitharaman and Vijay Rupani nominated by the central leadership to oversee the BJP Legislature Party meeting.
Eknath Shinde has agreed to serve as the Deputy Chief Minister in the incoming Mahayuti government. He will take the oath alongside NCP’s Ajit Pawar on Thursday. Devendra Fadnavis is poised to return as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, according to sources cited by India Today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other prominent NDA leaders are expected to attend the ceremony.
Following the oath-taking ceremony, the cabinet portfolios and berths will be finalized for the three Mahayuti allies – BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP. The BJP is likely to get 21-22 portfolios, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP 9-10 cabinet berths, and the Shiv Sena 12 portfolios. The BJP is expected to retain the Home and Revenue portfolios, as well as the Speaker and Chairman of the Legislative Council positions. The NCP is likely to retain the Finance portfolio and get the Deputy Speaker position, while the Shiv Sena is expected to secure the Urban Development portfolio.
Eknath Shinde will lead the discussions on finalizing cabinet portfolios in the coming days. Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar is likely to meet Amit Shah in Delhi on Tuesday, as per NCP MP Sunil Tatkare.
The BJP legislative party will meet at 10 am on Wednesday to elect its legislature party leader and likely announce the official chief ministerial candidate. The Mahayuti won 230 of the total 288 assembly seats in the Maharashtra assembly polls, with the BJP securing 132 seats, Shiv Sena 57, and NCP 41.
