Devendra Fadnavis likely to become Maharashtra CM, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar Deputy CMs

However, a senior Shiv Sena source said, “There has been no consultation with us on making Fadnavis the CM and our party has not agreed on any name for CM yet.”

Shinde who was hoping to be retained as CM is likely to be made the deputy CM along with Pawar. While Shinde was negotiating with the BJP over the last 36 hours, a source said the Sena might land up with around 12 ministerial berths and be given some key portfolios. The NCP is also said to end up with around 10 ministerial berths. The maximum permissible limit for the Council of Ministers in Maharashtra is 43, including the CM. The BJP, which has 132 MLAs, is likely to keep 21 ministerial berths for itself.

The source said the top four portfolios of Home, Finance, Urban Development and Revenue that the BJP was keen on retaining would now be shared with the alliance partners. The BJP may insist on home and finance, according to the BJP insiders. However, some last-minute negotiations on the number of ministerial berths and portfolios was still continuing, according to sources.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has convened a meeting in the evening in Delhi with Shinde, Fadnavis, and Pawar to discuss the power-sharing details and the Cabinet composition and an announcement is expected after that. The BJP’s central leadership is learnt to have assured its allies that it would accommodate their concerns to the extent possible while keeping the party’s interests intact.

In 2014, Fadnavis became the CM and served out the five-year term. At the time, the BJP was in coalition with then undivided Shiv Sena. After the 2019 Assembly polls, the Fadnavis-led BJP joined hands with Ajit Pawar. Fadnavis took oath as CM and Pawar as Deputy CM but the government lasted for around 80 hours as Ajit went back to his uncle and current NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar.