Amid the ongoing suspense over the new government formation in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde is reportedly pushing for the Home Ministry and Urban Development portfolios in the new Maharashtra government, according to a News18 report.

Shinde is said to be negotiating with his Mahayuti alliance partners to secure more key ministries.

However, according to India Today, BJP's Devendra Fadnavis is expected to return as Chief Minister, with Shinde and NCP leader Ajit Pawar to take oath as Deputy Chief Ministers in Mumbai on December 5.

Meanwhile, leaders from the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP’s Mahayuti alliance visited Mumbai's Azad Maidan to oversee preparations for the oath-taking ceremony, which is expected to mark the formation of the new government in Maharashtra following the Mahayuti alliance's landslide victory in the state assembly elections.

Following the Mahayuti's landslide victory in the November 20 elections, the new Maharashtra government is slated to be sworn in on Thursday with BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, a two-time former chief minister, being touted as the frontrunner for the top post.

The legislature party of the state BJP will meet at Vidhan Bhawan on Wednesday morning to elect its leader. But there were indications that distribution of portfolios among the three allies might not be a smooth process. Sena leaders on Monday said that as per the "convention" of alliance politics, their party should get the home portfolio if the CM post went to the BJP.

NCP chief Ajit Pawar, meanwhile, may meet Union minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Tuesday evening, a senior party leader said. State NCP chief Sunil Tatkare was responding to a question about reports that Pawar had sought a meeting with the senior BJP leader.

No appointment had been sought as such, Tatkare clarified. The Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party is part of the Mahayuti along with the BJP and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut claimed that Shinde was "sulking and throwing tantrums" at Fadnavis with the backing of the "superpower in Delhi", an apparent reference to the BJP's top brass.

"Matter of sadness that they are insulting mandate" Priyanka Chaturvedi slams Mahayuti over delay on CM face

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Tuesday criticised the Mahayuti alliance for the delay in declaring the Chief Ministerial candidate for Maharashtra, calling it a matter of sadness that they are disrespecting the mandate they received.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader alleged that no one has yet staked a claim before the Governor to form the government.

"It is not a matter of humour but of sadness that they are insulting the mandate they received. They have announced that the oath-taking ceremony will take place on December 5, but the Governor is unaware. No one has staked a claim before him to form the government, nor has he invited anyone. Nobody knows who the Chief Minister will be. It is disheartening for Maharashtra that despite such a strong mandate, they are unable to make a decision. In contrast, the Chief Minister of Jharkhand has already taken the oath, but this is not happening in Maharashtra," Priyanka told ANI.

The Mahayuti alliance, led by the BJP, achieved a landslide victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections held on November 23. However, the alliance has yet to finalise its Chief Ministerial candidate.