The suspense over the race for the chief minister's post in Maharashtra seems to be ending with Devendra Fadnavis being set to be sworn in on December 5. According to reports citing sources, his appointment confirmed in a BJP core committee meeting.

Sources said that Fadnavis was elected as the Leader of the BJP Legislature Party in Maharashtra. Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, and Devendra Fadnavis participated in the BJP's core committee meeting. Sitharaman and Rupani have been designated as central observers for the BJP's Maharashtra legislature party meeting.

Maharashtra BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar had earlier announced that the Mahayuti alliance partners will meet Governor CP Radhakrishnan at 3:30 PM on Wednesday to stake their claim to form the government in the state.

The BJP's legislature party meeting at Vidhan Bhavan came after the Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar's NCP, secured a landslide victory in the November 20 state elections, winning 230 of the 288 assembly seats. However, friction emerged over the distribution of portfolios among the Mahayuti allies. Shiv Sena leaders have asserted that their party should be allocated the home portfolio if the chief minister's post goes to the BJP, citing alliance conventions.

On Tuesday, Fadnavis met caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at his official residence, 'Varsha', marking their first in-person meeting since discussions in Delhi last week about government formation. Political analysts saw the meeting it as a strategic outreach by the BJP to reassure its ally, the Shiv Sena. Others suggest the meeting focused on preliminary planning for the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for December 5.

Additionally, a Shiv Sena insider revealed that a consensus has reportedly been reached among senior BJP leaders and other alliance partners to exclude individuals facing serious corruption allegations from holding ministerial positions in the new government.

Meanwhile, preparations for the grand event are in full swing. The ceremony, set to take place at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai, will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, nearly 2,000 VVIPs, and approximately 40,000 supporters. The guest list includes several Union ministers and 19 chief ministers and deputy chief ministers from various states.

BJP leader Prasad Lad described the event as a "historic moment" for Maharashtra. “The swearing-in ceremony will be telecast live across the state on available LED screens,” he added.