BJP deputes Sitharaman, Rupani to oversee selection of Maha CM

The BJP on Monday appointed Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who is the saffron party’s in charge for Punjab, as central observers to oversee the election of the Maharashtra Chief Minister and the BJP legislature party leader on December 4.

Approving the appointment of the central observers, BJP president JP Nadda set the ball rolling for the formation of the Maharashtra Government, days after the Assembly election results returned the ruling NDA coalition in the state to a four-fifth majority in a House of 288 MLAs.

Sources in the party said former Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis remained the frontrunner for the top post in the state, with the party inclined to name NCP chief Ajit Pawar and Shiv Sena president Eknath Shinde as Deputy Chief Ministers. Shinde was earlier learnt to be seeking the Deputy Chief Minister’s position for his son Srikant, who came out today to say “that was not the case”. “I am not in the race for the Deputy CM’s post,” said Shrikant.

A final word on the power-sharing agreement between the three allies and which party would keep how many and which ministerial berths is still awaited. Maharashtra can have the maximum 43 ministers, including the CM.

In the outgoing government, Deputy CM Fadnavis had the home portfolio while Deputy CM Ajit Pawar had finance. In the current talks, Shinde has demanded home and Pawar has again staked claim to finance. The BJP said the new government would be sworn in on December 5 in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Azad Maidan at 5 pm. The BJP is likely to keep over 20 ministerial positions, distributing the rest among NCP and Shiv Sena.