Maharashtra CM election: BJP names Sitharaman, Rupani as central observers 

The BJP on Monday appointed Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, BJP in-charge for Punjab, as central observers to oversee the election of Maharashtra chief minister and leader of the BJP legislative party in Maharashtra on December 4.

Approving the appointment of central observers, BJP president JP Nadda set the ball rolling for the formation of the Maharashtra government, days after 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 of the state and senior BJP leader, Devendra Fadnavis , remained the front runner for the post of the chief minister of Maharashtra with the party inclined to name NCP chief Ajit Pawar and Shiv Sena president Eknath Shinde as deputy chief ministers.

The Shiv Sena, however, is seeking the deputy chief minister’s position for caretaker chief minister, Eknath Shinde's son, Srikant Shinde.  Final word on the power sharing agreement between the three allies is still awaited along with which party will keep how many ministerial berths in the state and who will get what portfolios.

The Maharashtra assembly with 288 MLAs enables the chief minister to have a council of ministers of 43, including himself.  In the outgoing Maharashtra government, deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has the portfolio of home and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar has the finance portfolio.

In the ongoing power sharing talks, Eknath  Shinde has demanded portfolio while Pawar has against claim to finance. The BJP said that the new government will be sworn in on December 5 in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at Azad Maidan at 5 pm.