Devendra Fadnavis meets PM Modi amid suspense over Maharashtra portfolio allocation

This comes after Fadnavis and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Jagat Prakash Nadda met union home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday late night.

Days ago, the Shiv Sena claimed Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde wants to keep the home ministry with him going by the same arrangement which prevailed in the previous coalition government.

Sena leader Bharat Gogawale said now chief minister Devendra Fadnavis held the home ministry in the previous Mahayuti government, which was helmed by Shinde.

Gogawale said that Shinde has demanded the same arrangement in the new government. Talks are in progress, the Sena leader said.

The road to the swearing-in ceremony was rough as Shinde had sent feelers about his wish to remain the CM even when he had relied on PM Modi for the final decision.

In a flip, Shinde, who has served the top post for two years since 2022, took oath as one of the two deputies alongside Nationalist Congress Party's Ajit Pawar on December 5.

Fadnavis, who remained the chief minister from 2014-2019, served as Shinde's deputy in the Mahayuti government from 2022 to 2024.

The suspense over the CM's post started after the Mahayuti decimated the Maha Vikas Aghadi in the November 20 assembly elections.

Out of 230, the BJP dominated with a tremendous strike rate, winning 132, the highest ever by the saffron party in the state.