Maha govt formation delayed as Shinde heads to his village, Mahayuti meet called off

AFTER DELHI, FOCUS SHIFTS TO MUMBAI

- VINAY KUMAR

MUMBAI: Nearly a week after the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance posted a landslide victory in Maharashtra Assembly polls, the formation of the new coalition government is still shrouded in uncertainty.

Seemingly upset over developments, the caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde who heads his faction of Shiv Sena, abruptly headed to his native village in Satara which delayed holding a key Mahayuti meeting scheduled on Friday. The meeting was put off and is likely to take place on Sunday now.

Shinde-led Shiv Sena sources said the ruling alliance's meeting was expected to be convened in Mumbai on Sunday.

Leaders of the BJP, the largest Mahayuti constituent, said they were awaiting the arrival of central observers for the legislature party meeting.

The swearing-in of the new government is expected to take place next week, the sources said.