Maharashtra Power Play: Will 'Home' Deadlock Break?

The BJP has appointed Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani as central observers who will preside over the BJP's MLAs meet and choose a party leader. This is a step forward in the announcement of the chief minister face in Maharashtra, but the deadlock over cabinet portfolios remains. Eknath Shinde, the caretaker chief minister, has been in the centre of the storm. He has been asserting that it was under his 2.5 years that the state saw unprecedented development. The two Mahayuti partners feel if they have the two top posts, it will ensure smooth functioning for the government and the rival Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will be relegated to a corner. There are important portfolios, but this is also the story of assurances that were given, promises that were made, the Maratha factor, the future of the state, who can govern it properly, and who needs to be the chief minister. But remember the BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 132 seats, while the Shiv Sena and the NCP settled with 57 and 41 seats, respectively. So it's going to be a chief minister from the BJP, and will it be Devendra Fadnavis? Will Eknath Shinde be the deputy chief minister? What will be the shape of the final Maharashtra cabinet?