The meeting between key political leaders ended without clarity on the next chief minister of Maharashtra, as speculation intensifies over Devendra Fadnavis or Eknath Shinde

The question of who will be the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra remains unresolved after a late-night meeting on Thursday between state leaders and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The discussion, which was expected to end in a concrete decision, instead left political observers guessing about the next step for the state.

Maharashtra’s political landscape has been filled with uncertainty ever since the assembly election results were announced on November 23. The state’s political alliances, particularly the Mahayuti coalition, have been engaged in heated deliberations over who should take the top post. Among the frontrunners are former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and current Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, with Fadnavis widely considered the leading candidate.

While Shinde, who currently serves as the caretaker CM, had previously hinted at wanting another term, he made it clear earlier this week that he would defer to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) decision. Despite vocal support from Shiv Sena leaders who have rallied behind Shinde for a second term, the final choice seems to rest in the hands of the BJP, which holds considerable sway in the coalition.

Thursday’s meeting, attended by Shinde, Fadnavis, and Amit Shah, was meant to address the pressing issue of government formation. However, no announcement was made after the discussions, keeping the speculation alive. Political analysts are now looking to the next few days for any signals from the BJP about the final decision.

For now, the state remains in a state of political limbo, with the Mahayuti alliance expected to make a formal announcement soon. Voters and political pundits alike are eager to know whether Fadnavis will return to the CM’s chair, or if Shinde will get another shot at leading Maharashtra after the tumultuous political battles of the past few years.