New Delhi: After meeting with Union Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda, Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde described the meeting as “good and positive.” He added that another meeting would be held, which is expected to decide who will assume the role of Chief Minister.

“The meeting was good and positive. This was the first meeting. We had a discussion with Amit Shah and JP Nadda…There will be another meeting of the Mahayuti. In this meeting, a decision will be taken about who will be the Chief Minister. The meeting will be held in Mumbai,” he said.

Eknath Shinde, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, NCP chief Ajit Pawar and other Mahayuti leaders met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda in Delhi on Thursday. After the meeting, Shinde, Fadnavis and Pawar left the national capital at late night. The leaders gathered to deliberate on the formation of the new government in Maharashtra.

‘There Are No Obstacles Regarding The CM’s Post,’ Says Eknath Shinde

Earlier, Shinde reiterated that there were no obstacles regarding the Chief Minister’s post and that “Ladla Bhai” is a title that holds more significance for him than anything else.

“I cleared my role in the press conference yesterday that there are no obstacles regarding the Chief Minister of Mahayuti. This ‘ladla bhai’ has arrived in Delhi and the ‘ladla bhai’ is a designation higher than anything else for me,” Shinde told the meeting.

Shinde had stated on Wednesday that he would accept any decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the CM face for the state.

“I have told the Prime Minister that if my presence creates any obstacle in forming the government in Maharashtra, there should be no hesitation in making a decision. Whatever decision you take will be acceptable to me,” Shinde said during a press conference in Mumbai.

‘Mahayuti Alliance Has No Internal Differences,’ Says Devendra Fadnavis

Fadnavis also asserted that the Mahayuti alliance had no internal differences and that a decision on the Chief Minister would be made soon after consulting the leaders.

Speaking to the media, Fadnavis said, “In our Mahayuti alliance, there has never been a difference of opinion. We have always made decisions collectively. Before the elections, we announced that the decision regarding the Chief Minister’s post would be taken collectively after the results. A few people had doubts, but Eknath Shinde ji has clarified those today. We will soon meet our leaders and finalise the decision.”

The Maharashtra Assembly election results were declared on November 23, but the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance has yet to finalise its choice for Chief Minister.

The BJP emerged as the largest party with 132 seats in the 280-member Maharashtra Assembly, while its allies–the Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, and the NCP, led by Ajit Pawar–won 57 and 41 seats, respectively.

Mumbai: NCP-SP leader and actor Swara Bhasker’s husband, Fahad Ahmad, made a bold statement, declaring he would not contest elections for the next 20 years if Prime Minister Narendra Modi wins an election conducted through ballot papers. Ahmad’s comment came in response to a user on X, who challenged him in a discussion about electoral transparency.

Fahad Ahmad Applies For Verification Of Voting Machines

Fahad Ahmad, who recently lost the Maharashtra Assembly Election from the Anushakti Nagar constituency, shared a picture of a form requesting verification of voting machines. In his post, he highlighted concerns about electoral trust, stating, “To safeguard the trust of people in electoral system of our country. I have filled the request for the verification of 2 CU/BU/VVPAT booth. ECI is charging Rs. 47,200 for one booth which is huge amount otherwise I would have applied for 13 booths.”

In response, an X user named Kedar offered financial assistance to cover the verification costs for all 13 booths but attached conditions. The user proposed that if any discrepancy was found, the amount would be considered a gift. However, if no issues were detected, Fahad would need to return the amount along with Rs 25 lakh. The user also suggested formalising this arrangement through a legally binding agreement.

Fahad Ahmad’s Stern Reply

Ahmad replied sharply, saying, “You tell your father Narendra Modi to conduct the elections through ballot, if he wins then I will not contest elections for 20 years and as far as your money is concerned, we do not use the money of those who break the country.”

Fahad Ahmad Faces Defeat In Maharashtra Assembly Polls

In the recent elections, Fahad Ahmad, contesting on a ticket from Sharad Pawar’s faction of the NCP, was defeated by Sana Malik, a candidate from the rival NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar. The margin of defeat was 3,378 votes. Ahmad had previously been a youth leader in the Samajwadi Party under Akhilesh Yadav but switched allegiance to Sharad Pawar’s party shortly before the elections.

Mumbai: The customs department on Thursday apprehended Fallon Guliwala, wife of actor Ajaz Khan in alleged connection with a drugs case.

The agency had arrested Khan’s peon Suraj Gaud on October 8 for allegedly ordering 100gm of mephedrone or MDMA through a courier. The drugs were to be delivered to an office in Andheri.

The agency officials had also conducted searches at her Jogeshwari home and had reportedly seized various drugs following which she was arrested.

In an X post (formerly Twitter), Ajaz Khan stated on Thursday, “Is it a crime to tell the truth? Now after me, my family is being targeted. What does the administration want? Is it under any pressure? I was not punished for speaking the truth but was always implicated in false cases. Now my family is also being targeted. I have always supported the truth. If this is the punishment for speaking the truth, then do we have to suffer injustice every time?”