Maharashtra CM live updates: Maharashtra’s caretaker CM and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis and NCP chief Ajit Pawar meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in New Delhi on Thursday.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat emphasised that the name of Maharashtra’s Chief Ministerial candidate should be announced soon and that Eknath Shinde would take a major decision within 24 hours. Addressing Shinde’s visit to his native village in Satara district amid the suspense, Shirsat on Friday said, “When he (Eknath Shinde) has to make a big decision, he goes to his native village. By tomorrow evening, he (Eknath Shinde) will take a very big decision.”

Shirsat also reiterated that Shinde is focused on Maharashtra politics and has no interest in taking up a position in the Union Cabinet. “Yesterday the leaders of Maharashtra met at the residence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah… PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will decide who will be the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra… The name of the Maharashtra CM should be declared by today midnight. I have the information that the oath-taking ceremony will be on December 2,” Shirsat told ANI.

The Maharashtra Assembly election results, declared on November 23, saw the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance win a landslide majority, yet the alliance is still finalizing its Chief Ministerial choice.

The BJP emerged as the largest party in the 280-member Assembly with 132 seats, while its allies—the Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, and the NCP, led by Ajit Pawar—secured 57 and 41 seats, respectively.