BJP all set to elect legislative party chief in Maharashtra today

MUMBAI: The state BJP is all geared up to elect its legislative leader, who will be the new CM of Maharashtra. Central observers Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani arrived on Tuesday evening in Mumbai. Rupani, before leaving for Mumbai, said the CM will be from BJP. "BJP secured the highest number of seats. Besides, Shinde has already announced he will have no problem if the CM is from BJP," Rupani told mediapersons, reports Clara Lewis.

On Wednesday, the party's core committee will meet at 10 am along with the central observers at Vidhan Bhavan. The legislative meeting will commence in Vidhan Bhavan Central Hall at 11 am. Rupani said the state legislative body will unanimously elect the party's chief in the legislature. The name will be communicated to the central leadership and then publicly announced.

BJP office-bearers said that after the party's legislative chief is elected, the functionaries of three parties in Mahayuti will go to Raj Bhavan and stake claim to form govt. BJP, though it secured 132 MLAs - highest number in the state and within Mahayuti - will be last to elect its legislative party chief. Both Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP elected their legislative chiefs immediately after assembly results. Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis is frontrunner for party chief's post and, if selected, will be the state CM for the third time.