Maharashtra new CM highlights: NCP chief Ajit Pawar meets party's Praful Patel in Delhi

The assembly polls were fought under Eknath Shinde's leadership and it is now up to the BJP's central leadership to decide on how to maintain his stature, the caretaker Maharashtra chief minister's aide and former state minister Deepak Kesarkar said on Monday.

Shinde's contribution should be duly recognised, Kesarkar said at a press conference here. (PTI)

NCP chief Ajit Pawar, who arrived in Delhi on Monday evening, met with party leader Praful Patel at his residence.

Pawar is also likely to meet the BJP top brass ahead of the Mahayuti government's swearing-in ceremony in Maharashtra.

Senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar on Monday said the incoming Maharashtra cabinet will decide when to hike the monthly ₹1,500 stipend given to eligible women under the Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana to ₹2,100 as promised by ruling allies before state assembly polls.

Congress leader Rajesh Thakur on Monday told PTI, "BJP always says such things. They aren’t even sure about their own things. People of Maharashtra gave their alliance a majority, however, they are busy removing the person who was the CM (referring to Eknath Shinde) of the state. In our case, the person who was the CM (Hemant Soren) has already taken the oath."

"As far as the rest of the Cabinet is concerned, the decisions will only be taken after having detailed discussions… Soon, everything will be cleared," he added.

Shiv Sena leader Deepak Kesarkar reiterated party chief Eknath Shinde's stance that the ultimate decision on the Maharashtra CM post will be made by PM Modi and Amit Shah.

Speaking to ANI, he said, "The government is being formed anyway. Swearing-in ceremony has been scheduled for December 5. It is incorrect that Eknath Shinde is the reason why the government is not being formed in the state. BJP has appointed observers today, so the CM face will be announced today only... Eknath Shinde has made it clear that PM Modi and Amit Shah's decision will be final."

"The Home Department cannot be run by the Home Minister alone. It is run jointly by the CM and the Home Minister... In states, all rights of the Home Department rest with the CM... There is a 99% chance that Devendra Fadnavis will be the CM... Eknath Shinde's honour should also be taken care of," Kesarkar added.

Ahead of the Mahayuti government's oath-taking ceremony on December 5, NCP chief Ajit Pawar arrived in Delhi. He is likely to meet with the BJP top brass.

NCP MP Sunil Tatkare on Monday reiterated that there is no conflict in the Mahayuti alliance.

Speaking to ANI, he said, "Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman have been made central observers for the state and hopefully, the swearing-in ceremony will be held on October 5 in Azad Maidaan... It was decided that very day when all of us met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, that the CM would be from BJP... We have elected Ajit Dada (Pawar) as the leader of our legislative party... There is no conflict in the Mahayuti."

Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Varun Sardesai on Monday claimed that the trends in postal ballots and EVM results of the recently concluded Maharashtra assembly polls appear inconsistent, raising doubts on the integrity of the EVM system.

Sardesai also claimed that a suspicious spike was seen in the voter turnout during the final two hours of polling, demanding a response from the Election Commission.

"While I am not making direct allegations, the data raises several doubts that must be addressed," he said.

Ahead of the December 5 swearing-in ceremony of the Mahayuti government, BJP Maharashtra chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule inspected the Azad Maidan in Mumbai, where the event will take place.

The BJP Maharashtra unit has announced that its legislative party meeting will take place on December 4 at the Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan at 10 am.

A senior BJP functionary told PTI that the Maharashtra chief ministerial pick will be announced on December 4, on the eve of the swearing-in ceremony of the Mahayuti government.

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NCP chief Ajit Pawar has left from his Mumbai residence. The leader is scheduled to arrive in Delhi later today.

Former Gujarat chief minister and BJP's Central Observer for Maharashtra Vijay Rupani told news agency ANI, "Party has appointed both of us as Maharashtra observers. We are going as observers where the procedure to appoint the legislative party leader will take place...central office will let us know the date of the meeting and we will go and meet everyone and then will speak to high command. As per the High command's words, then the legislative party leader will be declared."

NCP(Sharad Pawar) leader Rohit Pawar on Monday challenged the Election Commission over the EVM issue raised in the recently concluded Maharashtra assembly elections.

“I would challenge the Election Commission, in 2017, you had allowed the opposition parties to do some investigation with the EVM but what had happened was that you specifically told not to touch the EVM so I would request as a citizen of this country to touch the EVM and that too, any EVM which we say and that should happen in front of the media,” he told news agency ANI.

"We will bring our technical team, all opposition parties and those in power will also be there, just give us 15 minutes...doubts need to be cleared and once it is cleared that the machine is foolproof, then no one will speak against EVM or Election Commission but to clear those doubts at least one opportunity has to be given...we are just saying what people are talking about," he added.

The BJP parliamentary board has appointed union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani as observers to elect the legislative party leader of Maharashtra BJP.

The observers are expected to visit Mumbai and convene a meeting of the newly elected MLAs of the party tomorrow, December 3.

Shiv Sena workers have put up banners of ‘Eknath Shinde is a common man’ outside the caretaker chief minister’s residence in Thane.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat said that Eknath Shinde has made it clear that he is not a hindrance in the formation of the Mahayuti government, adding that the party also don’t have any demand.

“After saying things with this much clarity, I think putting allegations against him isn't good. Whatever senior leaders will decide, we will accept that. There is no difference in Mahayuti... I think there will be a meeting between the leaders - Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar regarding portfolios and all the confusion will be cleared,” Shirsat told ANI.

Maharashtra New CM Live: In a post on X, Eknath Shinde's son denied rumours of him being chosen as deputy CM in the new Maharashtra government.

In his post he said, “I have no desire for a position in power. I make it clear once again that I am not in the race for any ministerial position in the state.”

Maharashtra New CM Live: Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Aditya Thackeray on Sunday claimed the Mahayuti's inability to decide on a chief minister and form government more than a week after the announcement of assembly poll results was an "insult" to Maharashtra.

In a post on X, Thackeray also asked why president's rule has not yet been enforced in the state. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has also called for president's rule.

Maharashtra New CM Live: group leader in the Maharashtra legislative assembly.

NCP(SP) president Jayant Patil said that debutant MLA Rohit Patil has been appointed as the party's chief whip.

Maharashtra New CM Live: After a short visit to his hometown when he was ill, Eknath Shinde said that all the allies in the Mahayuti are aligned and confirmed that the CM pick would be announced soon.

“Our government's work over the past 2.5 years will be remembered in history. This is why the people gave us a historic mandate and denied the opposition even the chance to elect a Leader of the Opposition. All three allies of the Mahayuti have a good understanding,” he said.

Maharashtra New CM Live: BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar told news agency ANI on Sunday that a meeting will be held to select the BJP's legislative leader, with an announcement to be made ahead of the oath ceremony.

Mungantiwar said, "The meeting will take place to choose our legislative leader. The representatives come from the centre with the names. After choosing the names, the announcement will be made officially. The announcement will be made ahead of the oath ceremony."

Maharashtra New CM Live: BJP leader Kirit Somaiya announced on Monday that he had filed an FIR with the Mumbai police against an individual whose video went viral, in which he was seen making false and unsubstantiated claims about hacking and tampering with Electronic Voting Machines.

Somaiya told ANI, “I have also complained about the viral video. Mumbai police has also registered an FIR. Along with this, I have also requested the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and the regulators that this hacker or this person who is telling this had also posted the same on social and digital media in a similar way during the 2019 elections.”

“ I have requested the Election Commission and Mumbai Police that this video or the so called sting operations done by the people should also be investigated and action must be taken against them as well,” he added.

Maharashtra New CM Live: The Supreme Court is set to hear a PIL on December 2 challenging the ECI's decision to raise the maximum number of voters per polling station from 1,200 to 1,500.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar will consider the PIL filed by Indu Prakash Singh, who has contested two communications issued by the Election Commission in August 2024, which increased the number of voters per polling station across constituencies in India.

The petitioner contended that the poll panel's decision had an impact on the voters during the assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand.

Maharashtra CM Live Updates: Caretaker CM Eknath Shinde stated that the CM candidate for the Mahayuti alliance will be announced today.

He reiterated that he has already extended his "unconditional support" to the decision made by PM Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah, and BJP president JP Nadda.