Shiv Sena rebel Eknath Shinde will be the Chief Minister, the BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis said on Thursday, in a move that very saw coming. “I will stay out of the government and ensure it runs smoothly,” Mr Fadnavis said.

The announcement came shortly after Fadnavis and rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde went to meet Governor BS Koshyari at Raj Bhavan to stake a claim to form the government. Udhhav Thackeray had resigned from the chief minister’s post shortly after the Supreme Court refused to stay the floor test order on Wednesday.