December 5, 2024: Maharashtra's caretaker Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, extended his congratulations to Devendra Fadnavis on his election as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Legislative Party leader, but kept everyone guessing about his future role in the state government.

Fadnavis is set to be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Thursday, December 5, in a grand ceremony at Mumbai's Azad Maidan, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance. Alongside Fadnavis, two deputy chief ministers, including Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar, will also take their oaths. However, despite the high-profile event, there remains uncertainty regarding Shinde's participation in the new cabinet.

Following a meeting with Governor CP Radhakrishnan, Devendra Fadnavis addressed the media, confirming the swearing-in ceremony's schedule. “The swearing-in ceremony of the new government will be held tomorrow at 5:30 pm in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I met Eknath Shinde and requested him to join us in this government, as it is the wish of Mahayuti workers. We will fulfill the promises made to the people of Maharashtra,” Fadnavis stated.

While Fadnavis made his intentions clear about the new government's formation, Shinde did not offer any clarity on his future role. He praised the achievements of the outgoing Mahayuti government, reflecting on the past two and a half years of governance. "I am very happy with the completion of two-and-a-half years. The work done by our government—the Mahayuti government—by the three of us and our team in the last 2.5 years is remarkable. It will be written in golden letters in history. We are proud to have taken such significant decisions," Shinde remarked.

As the political drama continues to unfold, all eyes remain on whether Shinde will accept Fadnavis's invitation to be part of the new administration or choose a different path in Maharashtra's shifting political landscape.