Maharashtra government formation LIVE: Who will be Mahayuti’s CM pick? Discussions under way, says Ajit Pawar

While Assembly elections are about State issues and State-level leaders, it is often that national-level leaders play a critical role in State-level choices. In the recently-concluded Maharashtra Assembly elections, more than four voters mentioned that their vote choice was shaped by considerations of national leadership.

Prime Minister Modi’s role in boosting the Mahayuti performance was evident in over one-third of the respondents mentioning the Prime Minister as an important influence in their voting decision. Close to two of every 10 mentioned Rahul Gandhi as the national leader who influenced their voting choice. It is important to highlight that three of every 10 respondents said that their vote choice was influenced by local issues and not national leaders.

The leader of both houses (Council and Assembly) for Shiv Sena UBT will be Shiv Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray, announced during meeting on Monday.

- Snehal Mutha

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Monday suggested to NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar that had he campaigned in his nephew’s Assembly constituency, it would have been difficult for the latter to win the seat.

In the just-concluded Maharashtra Assembly polls, Rohit Pawar, the grandnephew of NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, retained his Karjat Jamkhed seat in Ahilyanagar district by defeating BJP’s Ram Shinde by a thin margin of 1,243 votes. - PTI

Shiv Sena (UBT) elected the Shiv Sena leader Bhaskar Jadhav as the leader of the party in the Legislative Assembly, and Sunil Prabhu as Chief whip on Monday in a new-elected MLAs meeting in Mumbai.

- Snehal Mutha

MP Sanjay Raut on Monday demanded a re-election in Maharashtra using ballot papers, claiming there were irregularities with the electronic voting machines (EVMs).

Talking to reporters, Mr. Raut alleged several complaints about EVMs malfunctioning and questioned the integrity of the recently held elections. - PTI

A Congress rebel who contested as an independent candidate against Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in the recently held State Assembly elections has joined the Shiv Sena.

Manoj Shinde, who was suspended by the Congress after he refused to withdraw his nomination from the Kopri-Pachpakhadi seat, joined the Shiv Sena on Sunday. 

Shinde also spoke of the marginalisation of party workers within the Congress, claiming that many activists were relegated to lower positions without recognition despite decades of service. - PTI

Even as the Election Commission presented its notification and the government gazette with the names of elected candidates in the Assembly polls to the Governor of Maharashtra on Sunday (November 24, 2024), government formation in the State may take time, sources indicated to The Hindu.

While speculations are rife about the formula and the probable Chief Minister face, decision will be made only after the intervention of the BJP-appointed Central observer, BJP sources said.