Maharashtra CM Live Updates: Final decision on name likely today after meeting with Amit Shah

Maharashtra CM Live Updates: BJP leader Ashish Deshmukh on Wednesday said that all the 16 newly-elected assembly members of the Congress in Maharashtra should join the BJP, claiming that their party has no future in the state.

"The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Mahayuti alliance won by a large margin and we saw the downfall of Congress in Maharashtra. This decline of Congress is happening everywhere," said Deshmukh, who won the election from Savner seat in Nagpur district.

Maharashtra CM Live Updates: Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule expressed his gratitude to ally Eknath Shinde on Wednesday for affirming that he would accept the decision of the top BJP leadership regarding the next chief minister of the state.

Speaking to reporters in Nagpur after Shinde, the caretaker chief minister, clarified his position, Bawankule criticized the opposition for attempting to spread rumors and question Shinde's character. "I want to thank Shinde for making his stance on the CM post clear today. He has taken a significant stand, and I am proud of him," the BJP leader remarked.

Maharashtra CM Live Updates: Following Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's comments on the CM post, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis stated on Wednesday that there has never been any disagreement within the Mahayuti alliance.

He emphasized that decisions are always made collectively. Fadnavis told the media, "There has never been any difference of opinion within our Mahayuti. We have always made decisions together, and we had previously stated that the decision regarding the CM's post would be taken collectively after the elections. Eknath Shinde ji has clarified any doubts today, and soon we will meet with our leaders to finalize the decision."

Maharashtra CM Live Updates: In the wake of Maha Vikas Aghadi's defeat in the Maharashtra assembly elections, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve said a section of workers feels the party should contest the future polls alone.

"There is a feeling among a large section of the party to contest the elections independently. It is immaterial whether Shiv Sena (UBT) gets power or not. The party was not born to seize power. It is a party that works on an ideology," Danve, said.

Maharashtra CM Live Updates: Union minister Ramdas Athawale on Wednesday, voiced his support for Devendra Fadnavis as the next chief minister of Maharashtra but emphasised that he would abide by the BJP "high command's" decision on the matter.

"The RPI (A), which is a BJP ally, feels Devendra Fadnavis should get an opportunity to become the Chief Minister again. However, if the high command decides to make Eknath Shinde the CM, we will back it," Athawale told reporters.

Maharashtra CM Live Updates: In a post poll press conference at his residence in Thane, caretaker chief minister Eknath Shinde said that he was willing to accept the decision taken by the BJP and prime minister Narendra Modi.

He stated that he identified as a ‘Common Man’ more than a ‘Chief Minister’ and had was content to have worked his way up and done well in the last two and a half years.

“I had resolved to do something for people. I have come from a poor family. My wife used to make both ends meet at home with great difficulty,” he said, adding that welfare schemes such as Ladki Bahin were devised to benefit farmers and the underprivileged from other sectors.

He thanked PM Modi for the central government's support to his work and stated that he was glad to “fulfil Balasaheb Thackeray’s dream of an ordinary Shiv Sainik making it to the top post”.

Maharashtra CM Live Updates: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday questioned the delay in announcing a chief minister despite the BJP having the mandate of the people.

Speaking to reporters, he said, “They have the mandate... the BJP has about 140 seats. Despite this, the Mahayuti is unable to give a chief minister to Maharashtra. What is the reason? What is going on between them? If they have the mandate, they should have decided the CM face within 24 hours. The people want to know.”

Maharashtra CM Live Updates: The BJP on Wednesday asked the Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to consider "replacing" Rahul Gandhi instead of the electronic voting machines.

The BJP's comments came a day after Kharge demanded a return to the use of ballot paper in elections.

"Let them keep EVMs with them. We don't want EVMs, we want voting on ballot paper. Then they will know what their position is and where they stand,” the Congress president stated on Tuesday.

Maharashtra CM Live Updates: NCP chief Ajit Pawar, Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis have headed to Delhi today for a final discussion with home minister Amit Shah to decide who will be the next chief minister of Maharashtra.

Ajit Pawar told reporters on Wednesday, "All three of us (Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar) are coming to Delhi tomorrow. Further discussions will be held there. Discussions on the formation of the government with a CM and two deputy CMs will be held."

Maharashtra CM News Live: Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske stated on Wednesday that the party would back whoever BJP chose as the chief minister as they had supported the Shiv Sena, reported ANI.

“PM Modi, Union HM Amit Shah, and BJP's national president JP Nadda--leaders of the Mahayuti alliance--are also our leaders, and whatever decision they take regarding the Chief Minister will be accepted by all of us. They have stood by us, and we will do the same for whoever they decide to be the CM,” said the MP.

Maharashtra CM News Live: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve on Wednesday said that the BJP would independently decide on the chief minister of the state and would not consult Eknath Shinde, who is the caretaker chief minister.

"The BJP is a party that takes its decisions independently. It does not take its decisions under pressure from Shinde," Danve told PTI.

"They (the BJP) must have already taken their decision," said Danve, in light of Eknath Shinde's press briefing where he stated that he would accept the choice made by prime minister Narendra Modi.