A key Mahayuti meeting, which was to decide on the formation of the Maharashtra government, to be held in Mumbai was put off on Friday after caretaker CM Eknath Shinde headed to his native village.
Speculations are rife that Shinde is upset with the government formation decision and therefore headed to his village Dare in Satara district. With Shinde absent, the government formation has been further delayed in the state.
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Apart from Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, top leaders of the BJP and NCP were slated to attend the Mahayuti meeting.
The ruling alliance's meeting is now expected to be convened in Mumbai on Sunday. According to sources, the swearing-in of the new government is expected to take place next week.
After the meeting with Amit Shah on Thursday night, Shinde told reporters that the talks were positive and the next round of discussions will be held in Mumbai on Friday.
Shinde along with Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar met Shah on Thursday night and, reportedly, key decisions regarding the formation of the government were taken.
After resigning from the CM post, the Shiv Sena leader had said that he would not be an obstacle in the formation of the government and would abide by the decisions taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah on the next CM.
With Fadnavis as the frontrunner for the CM post after BJP swept the assembly elections by winning 131 constituencies, many are asking Shinde to accept the deputy CM's post if he is being considered. However, there are also reports that Shinde might push his son Shrikant Shinde for the post.
According to the BJP leaders, the state unit is awaiting the arrival of central observers for the meeting.
While talking to reporters, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat said if Shinde did not accept the deputy CM's post in the new government, someone else from the party would be considered for the post.
"If Shinde does not accept the deputy CM's post, then some other leader from our party will get it. He (Shinde) will take a call on this by evening," he said.
Meanwhile, amid speculations regarding Shinde's travel to Dare, Shiv Sena dismissed claims that he was upset. Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant said Shinde was facing health issues and therefore left for his native place.
Samant also said that Shinde should be a part of the new government.
"If the meeting does not take place physically, it can also be held through video conference." "He (Shinde) is not upset. Even in Delhi, he was down with a fever and cold. It will be wrong to say he has gone to Dare because he is upset," the Sena leader said.
