Former Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde addressing a press conference in Thane. (Express Photo by Deepak Joshi)Maharashtra Government Formation Live News Updates: Terming the Maharashtra Assembly election as “people’s victory”, addressing a press conference at his residence former Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that Shiv Sena will fully support BJP’s decision on Maharashtra CM. He said, “I called PM yesterday and reassured that I am not a hurdle in govt formation…Whatever your decision as NDA / Mahayuti leader will be acceptable to us…Shiv Sena will fully support BJP’s decision…I conveyed to them yesterday itself decision on CM.” The suspense deepened on Tuesday after Eknath Shinde resigned as CM and was asked to continue as caretaker CM by Governor C P Radhakrishnan.
MVA seeks verification of EVM-VVPAT units: Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidates who lost in the recent Maharashtra Assembly elections have raised concerns over the integrity of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), seeking verification of EVM-Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) in their constituencies. Opposition leaders, including Congress’ Arif Naseem Khan and Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray, allege potential tampering and discrepancies in vote counts. The demand follows the Mahayuti coalition’s sweeping victory, securing 230 seats against MVA’s 46 in the 288-member House.
Swearing-in ceremony: The swearing-in ceremony of the new Chief Minister is likely to be held on December 1. Along with Chief Minister and Deputy CMs, 20 MLAs will take oath as Cabinet Ministers, sources said. As many as 10 BJP MLAs will be given cabinet berths while six Shinde Sena MLAs and four NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) MLAs will also assume ministerial roles.
Speaking at the press conference former Maharashtra CS Eknath Shinde said, "I had called PM yesterday and reassured that I am not a hurdle in govt formation...Whatever your decision as NDA / Mahayuti leader will be acceptable to us." He further said, "Shiv Sena will fully support BJP's...I have conveyed it to them yesterday itself decision on CM."
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, speaking to the media for the first time following the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance’s victory in the November 23 polls, said, " I thank the people for the massive mandate to Mahayuti...Mahayuti's welfare schemes and development got support from the people. It's a landslide victory. I never considered myself a CM. I always worked, believed, and lived like a common Man."
Senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar stated that " Eknath Shinde will speak in favour of Mahayuti." Addressing remarks about leadership preferences, he emphasized that while it is natural for party workers to support their respective leaders as potential chief ministers, the final decision must align with the mandate of the people. He underscored that the BJP's overwhelming public support cannot be overlooked.
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is set to hold his first press conference at 3 pm on Wednesday following the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance’s victory in the November 23 polls.
BJP supporters, led by city chief Dheeraj Ghate, performed a havan and mahaarti at the Siddhivinayak temple in Sarasbaug on Wednesday, praying for Devendra Fadnavis to become Chief Minister.
In response to the Maha Vikas Aghadi candidates seeking verification of the EVM-Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) units in their segments, Maharashtra BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Wednesday said, "31 MPs of Maha Vikas Aghadi were elected 5 months ago during the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra, was the EVM working properly at that time? Now their candidate has won the Nanded Lok Sabha by-election, was there no problem with the EVM there? Instead of blaming the EVM, they should introspect. Every party worker wants his leader to become the CM. Soon a good government will be formed..." says Bawankule.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js#watch | Nagpur: Maharashtra BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule says, "31 MPs of Maha Vikas Aghadi were elected 5 months ago during the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra, was the EVM working properly at that time? Now their candidate has won the Nanded Lok Sabha by-election,… pic.twitter.com/xji6MPQRlM
— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2024
The swearing-in ceremony of the new Chief Minister is likely to be held on December 1. Along with Chief Minister and Deputy CMs, 20 MLAs will take oath as Cabinet Ministers, sources said. As many as 10 BJP MLAs will be given cabinet berths while six Shinde Sena MLAs and four NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) MLAs will also assume ministerial roles.
There is still uncertainty over who will become the next Chief Minister. The suspense deepened on Tuesday after Eknath Shinde resigned as CM and was asked to continue as caretaker CM by Governor C P Radhakrishnan.
Within the alliance, the BJP and Shiv Sena are divided, with some BJP members pushing for Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena members advocating for Eknath Shinde to continue as CM. BJP's Chandrashekhar Bawankule stated that central party leaders would decide after consultations with alliance partners.
Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidates who lost in the recent Maharashtra Assembly elections have raised concerns over the integrity of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), seeking verification of EVM-Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) in their constituencies. Opposition leaders, including Congress’ Arif Naseem Khan and Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray, allege potential tampering and discrepancies in vote counts. The demand follows the Mahayuti coalition’s sweeping victory, securing 230 seats against MVA’s 46 in the 288-member House.
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Good night, here's an update on the political situation in Maharashtra before we wrap up for the day:
Maharashtra is witnessing a significant political shift as Mahayuti returns to power amid uncertainty over the Chief Minister's position. Senior BJP leaders emphasise the need for a smooth government formation process, involving consultations with alliance partners Shiv Sena and NCP. BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule stated has said the final decision on the CM will rest with the party's central leadership. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena remains hopeful for Eknath Shinde to retain his role, citing the alliance's historic mandate. Despite multiple meetings, clarity remains elusive, though BJP's strong seat tally suggests Devendra Fadnavis may hold the advantage.
Senior IPS officer Rashmi Shukla on Tuesday assumed the charge as the Maharashtra DGP, a day after she was reinstated to the post following the conclusion of the state assembly elections.
Shukla paid tributes to martyrs at the Commissioner of Police Office in south Mumbai, an official said.
The order reinstating Shukla as the Director General of Police was issued by the state home department on Monday evening. PTI
Some candidates of Shiv Sena (UBT) who lost recent Maharashtra assembly polls pointed fingers at the functioning of EVMs during their interaction with the party head Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday.
Thackeray took stock of lacklustre performance of his party at a meeting held at his residence in Mumbai.
Some legislators who lost the polls raised doubts about the functioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), said a former MLA who attended the meeting. Thackeray appealed to the party leaders not to lose hope and work to rebuild the party.
A day earlier, Thackeray met with all victorious MLAs of Shiv Sena (UBT), a constituent of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi.
Siddharth Kharat, newly-elected Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA from Mehkar in eastern Maharashtra's Buldhana district, on Tuesday blamed the rival faction of the Shiv Sena for the violence after the assembly elections results.
Police have registered cases against 23 persons after two groups clashed in Mehkar city on Sunday night.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Kharat, who defeated three-time MLA Sanjay Raimulkar of the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, said it was also a defeat of Union minister and Buldhana's Shiv Sena MP Prataprao Jadhav.
Jadhav and Raimulkar "could not digest their defeat," he said, accusing the rival Shiv Sena supporters of instigating violence.
“I am the Abhimanyu of the modern era. I know how to break the Chakravyuha.” When Devendra Gangadhar Fadnavis made this bold assertion post the BJP’s poor Lok Sabha performance in Maharashtra, it was seen as the kind of bravado the Deputy Chief Minister has come to be known for.
Today, few would grudge Fadnavis’s claim of having emerged standing at the end of a Mahabharat, as the BJP put the Lok Sabha setback in Maharashtra behind it to win its most Assembly seats in the state.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde resigned on Tuesday in a constitutional obligation, paving the way for appointing a new government amidst intense negotiations within the Mahayuti alliance on who would take the top post -- BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis or Shinde -- the Shiv Sena head.
Shinde, accompanied by Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, the two deputy chief ministers in the previous government, met with Governor C P Radhakrishnan, who asked the Shiv Sena leader to remain in a caretaker capacity until a new Chief Minister is sworn in. - PTI
After the Dalit vote in Maharashtra drifted away from the Mahayuti in the Lok Sabha polls, owing to the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi’s (MVA) campaign on “threats to the Constitution and reservation”, the state’s ruling alliance has clawed back in the Assembly elections the seats where the Scheduled Castes (SC) play a key role.
Across the state, Dalits make up about 12% of the population, as per the 2011 Census.
The BJP led the alliance with wins in 10 SC-reserved Assembly seats, followed by the Ajit Pawar-led NCP in five, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in four, and one going to a minor ally. But it was a poor showing on the MVA front – the Congress won four SC seats, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena (UBT) won three, and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) won two – winning a total nine such seats.Read More
Amid suspense over who will be the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat has said there will be clarity on the issue by Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.
The Shiv Sena spokesperson said the decision on the chief minister will be taken by Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar after holding discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and other top leaders of BJP.
"The three leaders (Shinde, Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar) will meet in the evening and take an appropriate decision. This (the decision) will be communicated (to the media) by these leaders either by tonight or Wednesday morning," Shirsat told reporters. PTI
Siddharth Kharat, newly-elected Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA from Mehkar in eastern Maharashtra's Buldhana district, on Tuesday blamed the rival faction of the Shiv Sena for the violence after the assembly elections results.
Police have registered cases against 23 persons after two groups clashed in Mehkar city on Sunday night.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Kharat, who defeated three-time MLA Sanjay Raimulkar of the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, said it was also a defeat of Union minister and Buldhana's Shiv Sena MP Prataprao Jadhav.
Jadhav and Raimulkar "could not digest their defeat," he said, accusing the rival Shiv Sena supporters of instigating violence. - PTI
Rituals are being conducted in more than 100 temples for the continuation of Eknath Shinde as chief minister of Maharashtra in the Mahayuti 2.0 government which is yet to be formed.
The conundrum over whether Shinde will continue at the helm or whether Devendra Fadnavis, who steered the BJP to stupendous victory, will replace him remains unsolved even three days after the Mahayuti romped home to retain power.
Havans (a fire ritual) and pujas are being conducted in over 100 temples across Maharashtra by priests, said Akshay Bhosale, the head of Shiv Sena's Dharmavir Adhyatmik Sena.
In acknowledgement of Shinde's work for the welfare of priests and seers, pujas are being offered at temples, Bhosale said on Tuesday.
These saints played a crucial role in campaigning for the Mahayuti, comprising BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, especially in rural areas, he said. - PTI
Vinay Sahasrabuddhe writes: The BJP takes every election seriously. Even so, the Maharashtra win is significant because the state has been a prominent theatre in the ideological battle. Post the Lok Sabha poll results, resolutely fighting against the odds, the BJP overcame the odds and established that “united we win”. The Mahayuti’s resounding success has not just silenced but frustrated most pseudo-progressives who were eager to write the BJP’s epitaph post-June 4. Those struck by shock would do well to understand the magic of the BJP’s mehnat instead of doubting the authenticity of the voting machines. Behind the BJP’s success was a carefully crafted strategy to reboot the process of narrative-shaping and restore confidence, initially of the cadres and then of the voters.
As the Mahayuti alliance mulls over the next Chief Minister, Shiv Sena leader and state minister in the outgoing cabinet Deepak Kesarkar said on Tuesday that any decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be acceptable to him.
"CM Eknath Shinde has submitted his resignation to the Governor and the Governor has appointed him as the caretaker CM till the new government is formed, he will handle the work of the government. Mahayuti leaders will sit together and discuss and go to Delhi and then a decision will be taken," Kesarkar said on Tuesday.
"CM Shinde has clearly said that whatever decision PM Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah take, it will be acceptable to him," he told reporters.
When asked about if there is a favoured candidate, he said that there is no clear favourite to the CM's post as of now as the party leaders discuss among themseleves. - ANI
Girish Guber writes: Cash, caste, communalism and crops are the four Cs that Maharashtra’s fiercely-fought Assembly election revolved around. And, ultimately, the first three Cs seem to have outsmarted the burning issue of falling crop prices in Maharashtra’s rural areas. The state’s hurriedly-launched Ladki Bahin Yojana, a cut-and-paste of Madhya Pradesh’s successful Ladli Behna scheme ensured cash in the hands of the state’s poor women while BJP’s social engineering effort, in organising OBCs to counter the Maratha anger, with a dash of communalism seen in slogans like “Batenge To Katenge”, proved to be the perfect blend of the winning concoction for the BJP, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s NCP.
Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) MLA Sanjay Shirsat said, "The BJP will be sending its observers from Delhi. Their party's legislature meeting will be held today to elect BJP's legislative group leader."
The BMC on Tuesday clarified that the MNS candidate from Dahisar assembly constituency in the city received 53 votes in one of the polling centres and not two, as claimed by him.
In a post of X, the civic body refuted losing candidate Rajesh Yerunkar's allegations of EVM manipulation.
In a viral video, Yerunkar alleged a mismatch in the polling data and EVM numbers. He received only two votes at the polling centre where four members of his family voted, he said, questioning the count.
Manisha Chaudhary of the BJP won from the constituency, getting 98,587 votes, defeating her nearest rival Vinod Ghosalkar while Yerunkar, in the third place, received 5,456 votes.
"There is no factual basis to the allegations," said the civic body in its statement.
Notably, BMC commissioner and administrator Bhushan Gagrani was the district election officer for Mumbai city and Mumbai suburbs during the November 20 elections.
As per the form 17-C, which records the detailed vote count for each candidate, Yerunkar received 53 votes at the particular centre, the BMC said, adding, "there is no truth to the complaint that the candidate got only two votes there." Information in the form 17C and EVM voting data also matched and no written complaints were received by the Dahisar Election Officer's office, it said.
As to Yerunkar's allegation that the EVM battery showed 99 per cent charged status even after polling, the BMC cited the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) issued by the Election Commission of India which explain that the voltage of an EVM power pack falls very gradually when the battery storage is high but falls rapidly when the storage goes below a threshold.
"In case of lighter current load like with a single Ballot Unit and less than 1000 votes being cast, the battery current drain is low and output voltage may not drop below 7.4V and can thus display 99% capacity," the BMC post said.
The Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) did not win a single seat in the 288-member assembly while the ruling Mahayuti swept the elections, winning 230 seats.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar has decided not to stake claim to the Maharashtra chief minister’s post, state party chief Sunil Tatkare said on Tuesday.
“No, Ajit Pawar is not in the race for the chief ministerial post,” Tatkare told The Indian Express when asked if the NCP was pressing for the post.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde submitted his resignation to Governor C P Radhakrishnan at the Raj Bhavan on Tuesday and will continue as the caretaker chief minister until the new government is formed. Though the Mahayuti is yet to announce its chief minister, the NCP led by Ajit Pawar has already indicated that Devendra Fadnavis is its preferred choice over Shinde.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday asked supporters not to throng his official residence ‘Varsha’ in south Mumbai to pitch for his continuation as CM.
“After the great victory of the Mahayuti alliance, our government will be formed once again in the state. As a grand alliance, we contested the election together and are still together today,” Shinde said on X, asking his supporters not to assemble outside the Varsha bungalow, or any other location in his support.
“Out of love for me, some people have appealed to everyone to gather together and come to Mumbai. I am deeply grateful for your love. But I appeal that no one should come together in my support in such a manner,” Shinde said.
Amid suspense over the Mahayuti's choice for the next chief minister of Maharashtra, a leader of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has claimed that the Maratha community wants him to continue in the top post.
It was also desirable that Shinde should continue as chief minister in view of the coming elections to the local bodies in the state, Shiv Sena spokesperson Sheetal Mhatre told reporters on Tuesday.
Despite the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance securing a massive victory, winning 230 seats in the 288-member assembly, consensus has eluded the ruling combine's leaders so far on who should be the next CM.
"Shinde successfully provided ten per cent reservation to the Maratha community (under the economically and socially backward category) and helped the community through the Annasaheb Patil and Sarathi corporations," she said, claiming that the community, hence, stood behind the Mahayuti in the elections.
"The demand that the chief minister should be from the Maratha community is gaining strength," she added.
While chief minister Shinde, who hails from western Maharashtra's Satara district, belongs to the politically dominant Maratha community, BJP leader and deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, considered to be the frontrunner for the CM's post following the BJP's spectacular performance in the elections, is a Brahmin from Nagpur.
A group of women, meanwhile, met Shinde here on Monday to express gratitude for the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, a scheme under which eligible women get Rs 1,500 per month. The scheme is said to have played a major role in the ruling coalition's electoral success. - PTI
An announcement on Cabinet compostion and power-sharing details is awaited.
A party source said Shinde Sena might get upto 12 ministerial berths and be given some key portfolios. The NCP could also get around 10 ministerial berths. The maximum permissible limit for the Council of Ministers in Maharashtra is 43, including the CM. The BJP is likely to keep 21 ministerial berths for itself. There are also indications that 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 swearing in ceremony may take place on December 1.
According to the sources, along with the CM, DCMS, 20 more MLAs would be taking oath as ministers. While BJP's 10 MLAs take oath as cabinet ministers,Shinde's six and Ajit Pawar led NCP's 4 MLAs would take oath as ministers.
As the government’s five years tenured expired on Tuesday, Eknath Shinde submitted his resignation to Maharashtra governor CP Radhakrishnan. Shinde appealed to his supporters to not gathered at Varsha or at his Thane's residence.
The Shiv Sena believes that if Shinde is denied the CM post, Uddhav Thackeray and his party will get the room to target Fadnavis and the BJP. They will be accused by the Uddhav faction of using the Shiv Sena name and symbol to come to power and then dumping it. “It could well be turned into a BJP vs Maharashtra fight,” a source said.
The consolidation of Maratha votes is another weapon in the Sena arsenal. It says that if Shinde is allowed to continue as CM, the BJP will generate goodwill of the community – the Sena argument is that Shinde is the leader who “demolished” the Congress and prevented it from securing Maratha votes. The party is also reminding the BJP that the mandate is for the Shinde government’s welfare measures and “good governance”.
A source tallking to The Indian Express said the Sena might land up with around 12 ministerial berths and be given some key portfolios. The NCP could also get around 10 ministerial berths.
The maximum permissible limit for the Council of Ministers in Maharashtra is 43, including the CM. The BJP is likely to keep 21 ministerial berths for itself.
According to the source, there were indications that 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, party insiders said, may insist on Home and Finance. The negotiations on ministerial berths and portfolios are to continue.
As the government's five years tenured expired on Tuesday, Eknath Shinde submitted his resignation to Maharashtra governor CP Radhakrishnan. The governor has appointed Shinde as caretaker CM.
meanwhile, tt is learnt that the BJP leadership has convened a meeting in New Delhi with Shinde, Fadnavis and Pawar to discuss power-sharing details and the Cabinet composition. An announcement is expected only after the discussion.
The BJP leadership is learnt to have assured its allies that it would accommodate their concerns to the extent possible while keeping intact its own interests.
With party MLAs rooting for him as the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra, BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis appeared to be the frontrunner for the post under an arrangement which, according to party sources, would have Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde and NCP’s Ajit Pawar as Deputy Chief Ministers.
While sources in the state BJP claimed the party leadership in Delhi had cleared the name of Fadnavis as CM, a source in the Shiv Sena 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.”
The BJP, which spearheaded the Mahayuti return by securing 132 of its 230-seat tally in the Maharashtra House of 288, maintained a studious silence but came under pressure from its MLAs who called for a CM from the party, many among them rooting for Devendra Fadnavis, currently the Deputy Chief Minister.
A senior state BJP leader said the party wants to ensure “a hurdle-free government formation process including the appointment of the CM” along with its partners Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde and the NCP under Ajit Pawar.
Shiv Sena slender Deepak Kesarkar told media, "Every party feels CM should be their leader." But the leaders of all three parties have made it clear that whatever decision PM Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah takes will be acceptable to all.
After the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance clinched landslide victory in Maharashtra Assembly elections, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has submitted his resignation to Governor Governor CP Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhavan today. Shinde will serve as caretaker of the new Mahayuti-led government. The term of the current government ends today and Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar accompanied Shinde during the resignation.
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Chief Minister Eknath Shinde completes his tenure today and is expected to resign from the position. Meanwhile, BJP will stake claim to form form the new government. Shinde will take the role of the caretaker until the new government is formed.
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