'Outside support, Home and Finance portfolios...': Eknath Shinde weighs options as decision on Maharashtra CM likely today

Eknath Shinde is not “upset”; he is “unwell”. At least, that's what Shiv Sena says.

The Maharashtra caretaker chief minister left for his native village in Satara district yesterday, thus delaying the government formation in the state. The Mahayuti alliance, of which Sena and the BJP are part of, swept the recent Maharashtra assembly polls, winning 230 of the 288 seats.

But, their joy of the crushing win over the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, was soon overshadowed by internal rift in the Mahayuti over the next CM candidate and portfolios.

Though Shinde, after his meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, had said that he will fully support BJP leadership's decision to name the next CM and would not be a hurdle in the process, his actions strongly suggest otherwise. His visit to his native village Dare put off a key meeting of the Mahayuti allies BJP, Shiv Sena and the NCP on Friday.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat told ANI that Shinde will take a “big decision” by this evening. He added that the name of the next Maharashtra CM will be declared by midnight and the swearing-in is likely be held on December 2.