Shinde returns as parleys over portfolios intensify

Maharashtra caretaker chief minister Eknath Shinde returned to Mumbai on Sunday and played down talk of differences within the Mahayuti coalition, even though the three parties—in particular, Shinde's Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party—engaged in fraught negotiations over portfolios.

- Surendra Gangan

Shinde reiterated his "full support" on the decision regarding who will become the next chief minister, saying, "all three allies of the Mahayuti have a good understanding. The chief minister will be decided".

But, according to people familiar with the matter, the crucial matter of portfolios is unresolved. Shinde's sudden departure to his home village Dare on Friday had led to the cancellation of a scheduled meeting between him, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar to discuss department allocation, cabinet berths and guardian ministerships. The meeting, critical for finalising the structure of the new government, is now expected to take place on Monday.

"I have already said the decision on CM's post taken by the BJP leadership will be acceptable to me and Shiv Sena and will have my full backing," Shinde told reporters after reaching Thane. However, he remained non-committal when questioned about his party's demand for the home portfolio and speculations about his son becoming deputy chief minister, saying only that "talks were on".