When Shinde led his midnight rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray's Maha Vikas Aghadi government on the intervening night of June 22-23, 2022, and traveled with his MLAs to Surat and then Guwahati, most of the rebel Sena MLAs had held Ajit Pawar responsible for sidelining them in allocation of 'development funds'.

Shiv Sena leaders have demanded the home portfolio if the Chief Minister's post is retained by the BJP. Sources also indicate an emerging consensus to exclude ministers facing serious corruption charges from the new cabinet.

BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis will take oath as the chief minister on Thursday, while Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar will be deputy chief ministers. Only three prominent leaders will be sworn in tomorrow.

Caretaker Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief leader Eknath Shinde was discharged from the hospital after a check-up by a team of doctors on Tuesday.

The swearing-in ceremony will take place on December 5 at Mumbai's Azad Maidan, as declared by the BJP leaders.

The suspense over who will become the chief minister of Maharashtra continues as Eknath Shinde cancelled his meetings on Monday citing poor health, while NCP leader Ajit Pawar left for Delhi to meet top BJP leadership and discuss government formation.

Eknath Shinde, Ajit Pawar, and Devendra Fadnavis, either together or individually, are expected to visit Delhi later in the evening.