Ruling party leaders met floor leaders of political parties ahead of the start of the Winter session on Monday.

The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is set to stake claim to form the government after their sweeping victory in the Maharashtra elections. The oath ceremony is likely to be held tomorrow, said Deepak Kesarkar, a senior minister from the Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena. Sources said only the chief minister and those set to be his deputies are likely to take oath tomorrow. No decision has been taken yet on who else will join the cabinet, they added.

While Mr Shinde and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis are the top contenders for the chief minister’s post, it’s not yet known who among them will get the top post this time.

Asked about this yesterday, right after the seat tally indicated a second term for Mahayuti, both Mr Shinde and Mr Fadnavis said the allies will be consulted to pick the chief minister.

“Ladki Behen Yojana”: The Scheme That Powered BJP-Mahayuti To Big Maharashtra Win

“There will be no dispute about who will be the Chief Minister… it was decided from day one that, after the election, the leaders of the three parties will sit together and decide this,” said Mr Fadnavis.

Mahayuti swept 235 of the total 288 seats with the BJP emerging as the largest party with 132 seats. As the BJP emerged a senior partner in the NDA, the opposition targeted Mr Shinde saying he might have to work under Mr Fadnavis.

The chief minister’s post had been a bone of contention for leaders in Maharashtra that had left the BJP in a political crisis in the past. It led to the united Shiv Sena walk out of the NDA alliance after power tussle between Uddhav Thackeray and Mr Fadnavis in 2019.

Mr Thackeray, son of Shiv Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray who led the united party, confronted the BJP for an equal share of the top post. This met with denial and led to the collapse of the NDA alliance in Maharashtra. The Congress and united NCP, which was led by Sharad Pawar, used this opportunity to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, in which Mr Thackeray was named the chief minister.

The tables turned in 2022 when Eknath Shinde, then a trusted lieutenant of Mr Thackeray, walked out with a sizeable number of legislators and led to the collapse of the MVA government. He then became the Chief Minister as the BJP formed government with the support of the rebel MLAs. Mahayuti strengthened its grip further as the NCP’s Ajit Pawar rebelled against his uncle Sharad Pawar and broke away to support the Shinde government.

Star India batter Virat Kohli slammed his 30th Test century on Day 3 of the 1st Test against Australia in Perth. Kohli reached triple figures in 143 balls as India declared their second innings on 487/6, setting Australia a target of 534 runs to win. Kohli, who scored his first Test century after a gap of 16 months, surpassed Australia great Sir Donald Bradman in the list of players with most tons in the longest format. Kohli was tied with Bradman on 29 centuries prior to the Perth Test.

Sachin Tendulkar leads the all-time list, having retired in 2013 with 49 Test centuries to his name. Meanwhile, Kohli is the 4th Indian to hit 30 or more centuries.

Only Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid (36) and Sunil Gavaskar (34) scored more centuries than Kohli for India.

Meanwhile, Kohli was unbeaten on 100 when stand-in India captain Jasprit Bumrah declared the innings. Nitish Kumar Reddy was also unbeaten on 38 when the declaration came.

Earlier, Yashasvi Jaiswal slammed a majestic 161 to give India a psychological advantage in the five-Test series.

Jaiswal, who grew up homeless in the slums of Mumbai selling snacks on the streets to survive, was the hero, hitting 15 fours and three sixes in a mature 297-ball stay.

The 22-year-old, in his 15th Test, seemed destined for a second career double century but he cut Mitchell Marsh to Steve Smith at point and departed to a standing ovation.

Australia also removed Devdutt Padikkal (25), Rishabh Pant (1), and Dhruv Jurel (1), having accounted for KL Rahul (77) before lunch.

Rahul’s demise snapped a 201-run opening partnership with Jaiswal, a record for India in Australia, eclipsing the previous best set by Sunil Gavaskar and Kris Srikkanth in Sydney in 1986.

The visitors resumed with a 218-run advantage after seizing control on day two after Australia were dismissed for a woeful 104 in reply to India’s 150.

(With AFP Inputs)