BJP Names Observers, E Shinde's Son Junks Deputy Buzz In Maharashtra Race

The BJP emerged as the single-largest party in the 288-seat Maharashtra Assembly with 132 MLAs, while the Shinde Sena got 57 and the Pawar NCP group 41.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has named Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and ex-Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani as the designated 'observers' for a meeting of its newly elected Maharashtra MLAs later today, at which the issue of the next Chief Minister may be settled.

No formal announcement has been made so far, but Devendra Fadnavis, a senior BJP leader and two-time former Chief Minister, is widely seen as the frontrunner for the post.

The BJP - which recorded a big win in last month's Assembly election, with help from allies Shiv Sena and NCP (the Eknath Shinde- and Ajit Pawar-led factions) - has delayed naming the new Chief Minister amid backroom talks between the three allies over a power-sharing agreement.