Mahayuti leaders to meet BJP top brass, two deputy CMs formula likely to continue

NEW DELHI: Mahayuti leaders, including Maharashtra caretaker CM Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar, are likely to meet BJP's high command on Thursday, reported news agency PTI citing sources.

In the meeting, one CM and two deputy CMs formula may be chalked out to undisruptly glide the Mahayuti alliance -- comprising BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP -- for the next five years.

Ajit Pawar said he, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis and caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will reach Delhi tomorrow and further discussions will be held.

He said discussions will be held for the post of Chief Minister and two deputy chief ministers.

"All three of us (Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar) are coming to Delhi tomorrow. Further discussions will be held there. Discussions on the formation of the government with a CM and two deputy CMs will be held," Pawar told reporters.

It is expected that the CM face will be the from the BJP, while Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party are likely to be given the post of two deputies.

Shinde may swap his position with Fadnavis while Pawar will continue as one of the two deputy chief ministers, sources said.

Shiv Sena leader and outgoing chief minister Eknath Shinde had earlier in the day all but cleared the decks for a BJP leader to succeed him, with outgoing deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis seen as the clear favourite for the top job.

Shinde said he will "fully support" the BJP leadership's choice for the next CM, adding that he won't be a hurdle in the process.

"I called PM Modi yesterday and also Amit Shah and told them to decide (on who will be the CM post), and assured them that I will abide by whatever decision they take," Shinde told reporters at his residence in Thane.

The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance scripted a landslide win in the state assembly elections by winning 230 seats in the 288-member House.

Recovering from its Lok Sabha election losses, the BJP bagged 132 constituencies followed by Sena with 57 seats and the NCP with 41 seats, as they decimated the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, inflicting on the Congress its worst-ever defeat in the state.