NEW DELHI: Closed-door, final-hour discussions in Maharashtra are going in full swing to select the new chief minister of the state. BJP, the largest party with 132 seats, is tipped to make Devendra Fadnavis the Chief Minister. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader and current Chief Minister Eknath Shinde may likely get two and half years at the top office as negotiation continues.

The talks are being held in Delhi under the leadership of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. If the decision is delayed, there will be no swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday. If so, it is learned that the move is to document that the assembly has come into existence with the help of the governor.

The BJP consider Devendra Fadnavis entitled to the post of Chief Minister on the credit of his massive leadership that saw Mahyuti sweeping the Maharashtra polls. However, the BJP does not want to upset Shinde’s Shiv Sena as it does not have an absolute majority on its own. However, Ajit Pawar is strongly favouring Fadnavis as the new CM. It is a strategic move from the NCP leader to take home the prized deputy CM post.

There were reports that Shinde was reluctant to step down as chief minister, after leading the government’s policies including the ‘Ladki Bahin’ that turned catalyst in the party’s success. Along with key portfolios, Shiv Sena may get 12 ministries and NCP around 10. BJP may retain 21 out of 43 ministries. If Eknath Shinde acquiesces to BJP’s demand of making Fadnavis the Chief Minister, the Shiv Sena leader will make sure the take hold of the prized home ministry.

If Fadnavis becomes Chief Minister, it will be his third term in the top office. He led the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance during 2014-2019. In 2019, Fadnavis formed the infamous government with Ajit Pawar, which lasted only five days.