BJP names observers for Maha CM decision

UNION FINANCE MINISTER NIRMALA SITHARAMAN AND FORMER GUJARAT CM VIJAY RUPANI WILL OVERSEE THE BJP MEET ON DEC 4

- Surendra P Gangan

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday picked Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani as observers for a crucial December 4 legislative unit meeting in Maharashtra where the party is likely to pick the next chief minister of the state.

The developments came amid protracted stalemate over government formation, almost 10 days after the BJP-led Mahayuti won a landslide victory in the Maharashtra elections.

The focus has been on caretaker chief minister Eknath Shinde and his demands even as stalled talks between the BJP and the Sena resumed and Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar flew into Delhi on Monday night for a possible meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah. Shinde has said he is ill, and was ostensibly holed up in his Thane residence on Monday amid speculation that he was sulking about not getting the top post, even as his party insisted that all was well with the alliance.

On Wednesday, at Vidhan Bhavan, the 132 lawmakers of the BJP will elect their leader, who is likely to be the next chief minister of Maharashtra and also stake claim to power on behalf of the Mahayuti. Keeping with the party tradition, the BJP has planned to choose its nominee for the top post just a day ahead of the swearing-in ceremony scheduled to take place at Azad Maidan on December 5.

Former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is the front-runner for the post, though no official announcement has been made yet.

Once the chief ministerial candidate is announced by the central observers in consultation with the parliamentary board over phone, the name is expected to be announced by Thursday noon.