Shiv Sena MP Srikant Shinde, the son of Maharashtra's caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has dismissed the reports suggesting he is front runner for the Deputy CM post. He called the reports ‘false and baseless'.
The oath taking ceremony of the new CM is being delayed as reports of rift between the BJP and its alliance partners were rife. With Eknath Shinde leaving for his native village in Satara district on Friday after meeting BJP’s top brass in Delhi, the speculations got more intense.
Shiv Sena MP Srikant Shinde, the son of Maharashtra's caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has dismissed the reports suggesting he is front runner for the Deputy CM post. He called the reports ‘false and baseless'.
Amid speculation about the much-awaited CM post, BJP functionary told the media that the consensus has been reached and Mahayuti alliance will announce the name on December 4, a day before the swearing-in ceremony.
The oath-taking ceremony of the Mahayuti government is scheduled for December 5 evening at Azad Maidan in Mumbai in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Reportedly, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani have been chosen as central observers for its Maharashtra legislature party's meeting, where the MLAs will elect their leader.
The oath taking ceremony of the new CM is being delayed as reports of rift between the BJP and its alliance partners were rife. With Eknath Shinde leaving for his native village in Satara district on Friday after meeting BJP’s top brass in Delhi, the speculations got more intense.
Media reports suggested he was not happy with the way the new government was shaping up.
The caretaker CM however denied all the rumours after he arrived back in Mumbai on Sunday afternoon. Speaking to reporters, he said his party will extend 'full support' to BJP’s CM pick.
Shrikant Shinde on Monday spoke to media as he denied reports of him getting the Deputy Chief Minister role and he also informed that the swearing-in ceremony of the Maharashtra CM has been delayed and discussions are still underway.
The Kalyan MP made a post on X to clear the rumours, he said, "The news that I will be the deputy chief minister has been circulating with question marks for the past two days. There is no truth to this, and all such news are baseless."
He added that the rumours escalated after his father went to the village for two days and took rest due to ill-health.
He said despite an opportunity to become a minister in the central government after the Lok Sabha elections, he had turned it down to focus on strengthening the party organisation.
"I have no desire for a position of power. I make it clear once again that I am not in the race for any ministerial position in the state," he wrote.
Acknowledging the media's enthusiasm and competition, Shrikant Shinde urged them to refrain from distorting the facts.
A PTI report on Monday claimed that the name of the Maharashtra chief minister will be announced on December 4, a day ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of the Mahayuti government, after the BJP elects its legislature party leader.
According to aBJP functionary, the BJP has named Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani as central observers for its Maharashtra legislature party's meeting, where the MLAs will elect their leader.
"Rupani and Sitharaman would meet the BJP's elected representatives in Mumbai on Wednesday. Following this meeting, the chosen candidate's name will be relayed to senior leaders in Delhi. These observers will then announce the elected leader of the BJP, who is set to be the next chief minister," the BJP functionary told PTI.
The BJP has already announced that the new chief minister will take oath on December 5 at Azad Maidan in Mumbai in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders.
A senior BJP leader on Sunday told PTI that Devendra Fadnavis' name has been finalised for the CM's post but there hasn't been any official confirmation on this.
Amid speculation over his son Srikant Shinde potentially becoming deputy CM and Shiv Sena's interest in the Home portfolio, Eknath Shinde had earlier stated that the Mahayuti allies will decide the government formation through consensus.
The BJP’s main coalition partners, Shiv Sena and NCP, are expected to receive deputy CM positions in the new government.
Eknath Shinde, the caretaker CM, has earlier told that he would not get in the way of BJP taking the CM post.
In the recent assembly polls, Mahayuti alliance celebrated a massive victory, winning 230 of 288 seats with the BJP securing 132, Shiv Sena 57, and NCP 41.