Devendra Fadnavis met with Eknath Shinde to finalize power-sharing in Maharashtra. Shinde agreed to be Deputy CM, pending fair portfolio allocation. Shiv Sena seeks key portfolios like Home, currently aiming to retain existing ministries and secure others previously held by BJP. The cabinet expansion will follow after the initial swearing-in.
Devendra Fadnavis, after initially serving as Eknath Shinde’s deputy, is set to reclaim the Maharashtra Chief Minister position. His BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a resounding 230 seats, with BJP alone winning 132. Shinde, the caretaker CM, proposed Fadnavis’s name, reciprocating Fadnavis’s earlier support. Ajit Pawar is slated for his sixth term as Deputy CM.
The Supreme Court criticized former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee’s bail plea in a teacher recruitment scam money laundering case. The court questioned granting bail to a minister involved in a scam where substantial funds were recovered. Chatterjee’s counsel argued he deserved bail as a first-time offender, while the Enforcement Directorate opposed it, citing his role as the mastermind.
After 11 days of political drama, Devendra Fadnavis was proposed as the next chief minister of Maharashtra by Eknath Shinde. The BJP secured a significant victory in the state assembly elections, leading to discussions over leadership within the Mahayuti coalition. Shinde’s initial claim for a second term was rejected, ultimately leading to his acceptance of Fadnavis’s nomination.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) launched a performance rating system for highway maintenance contractors. Contractors scoring below 60 will be deemed “non-performers”, impacting future project bids. Network survey vehicles will assess road conditions, and data will be publicly available. This initiative aims to improve the quality of India’s expanding highway network.
The Congress MP also alleged that the IYC membership fees are not paid by individuals but by regional satraps, power brokers, and affluent individuals who manipulate the election process to their advantage. “This undermines those who have invested years of effort, sidelining them and demoralising the party’s unity while discouraging genuine participation,” Chidambaram added.