Mumbai: Amid ongoing deliberations over the formation of the Maharashtra government, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar announced on Saturday that the Chief Minister's position would go to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Pawar stated that the Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, and the NCP faction led by him, had reached this decision during a recent meeting in Delhi. He clarified that the Deputy Chief Minister roles would be allocated to the Shiv Sena and NCP factions.

"During the Delhi meeting of Mahayuti leaders, it was decided that the BJP would hold the Chief Minister's post, while the remaining two parties would get Deputy Chief Ministers," Pawar said. He added that delays in government formation are not unprecedented, citing the 1999 scenario where it took a month to establish a government.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis is being widely regarded as the frontrunner for the Chief Minister's post. Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde expressed his willingness to abide by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision on the matter.

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Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.

The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.

The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.

“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.

“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.

Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.

Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.

Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.

“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.