Who Will be Maharashtra's Next CM: Devendra Fadnavis' name is almost confirmed as the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra. According to sources, his name has been approved by the BJP central leadership. Late night on 25 November, a senior BJP leader from Delhi informed Eknath Shinde over the phone that Fadnavis has been made the next Chief Minister, after which Eknath Shinde had to resign on 26 November despite a lot of efforts. In the next two days, BJP's central observer team will go to Mumbai in which the formalities of choosing Devendra Fadnavis as the leader will be completed.

Ajit Pawar supports Fadnavis. Eknath Shinde's attitude has softened after NCP supported Devendra Fadnavis for the CM post. Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena may be given important ministries like finance and revenue in the new government. Ajit Pawar may again become the Deputy Chief Minister. Eknath Shinde has also been offered to become the Deputy Chief Minister.

If Eknath Shinde does not agree to become the Deputy Chief Minister, he can be given a place in the Union Cabinet. Then someone else from Shiv Sena can become the Deputy Chief Minister in place of Eknath. A new government can be formed in Maharashtra by the end of this week. It is being told that there will be a grand swearing-in ceremony in Mumbai in which preparations are being made to invite many saints, sages, mahatmas, and VIP guests.

Eknath Shinde resigned

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday resigned under constitutional obligation, three days after the assembly election results were declared, paving the way for the formation of a new government in the state. Shinde, accompanied by two deputy chief ministers of the previous government -- Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar -- met Governor C P Radhakrishnan, who asked the Shiv Sena leader to continue as the caretaker chief minister until the next chief minister is sworn in. The term of the outgoing assembly ended on Tuesday, November 26.

The Mahayuti alliance performed brilliantly in the recent assembly elections. It won 230 out of 288 seats. Mahayuti constituents BJP won 132 seats, Shinde-led Shiv Sena 57 and Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party 41 seats. Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat indicated that the situation regarding the chief minister's post will soon become clear after Shinde, Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar hold discussions with top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Meanwhile, in New Delhi, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said that the BJP leadership has decided to make Devendra Fadnavis the Chief Minister for the third time, although it has not been confirmed by the party. A BJP leader stressed that the party would not rush to announce the name for the chief minister's post until the distribution of departments is finalized.