The BJP’s key legislature party meeting will take place at the Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan on Wednesday to elect its leader, who is expected to become the next chief minister of the state. Former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is considered the leading candidate for the role in the new BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP Mahayuti government.

Once elected, the BJP legislature party leader is expected to meet the governor to formally claim the right to form the new government. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani have been designated as central observers for the meeting.

Rupani, who arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday, mentioned late in the evening that the party’s leader would be chosen after consultations with newly-elected MLAs. He indicated that only one name would be finalized if there is consensus.

In the recent Maharashtra elections, the BJP secured a remarkable 132 out of 288 seats, its best performance in the state. Along with its allies—the Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP—the Mahayuti coalition holds a strong majority of 230 seats.

On Tuesday, Fadnavis had a meeting with caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at the latter's residence, 'Varsha,' marking their first in-person discussion since their meeting in Delhi last week. The details of the hour-long meeting remain unclear, but it is seen as an attempt by the BJP to smooth over relations with its ally, which is still weighing its options. Some believe it was a preliminary discussion ahead of the swearing-in ceremony set for December 5.

The preparations for the ceremony, to be held on Thursday at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai, are in full swing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with around 2,000 VVIPs and 40,000 supporters, is expected to attend, along with several Union ministers and 19 chief ministers and deputy CMs from various states.

BJP leader Prasad Lad called the event a "historic moment" for Maharashtra and announced that it would be broadcast live across the state wherever LED screens are available.

There are indications that the allocation of portfolios among the three allies may not be smooth. Shiv Sena leaders have stated that their party should receive the home portfolio if the CM post goes to the BJP, based on traditional alliance politics. A Shiv Sena leader also mentioned that a consensus had emerged among top BJP leaders and Mahayuti allies to exclude ministers with serious corruption allegations from the new government.

Earlier on Tuesday, Shinde visited a private hospital for a check-up, fueling political speculation in Maharashtra. He later assured reporters that his health was fine. His visit to his village in Satara district last Friday had raised questions about his satisfaction with the way the new government was taking shape.

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