STATE LEADERS TO WATCH OUT FOR

JAYANT PATIL, 57

The state NCP president is likely to lead the party in the government too. Patil has presented 10 budgets in a row as state finance minister. A sober face of the NCP, he wields influence in western Maharashtra

VIJAY AKA BALASAHEB THORAT, 66

He took over as state Congress president after the party registered its lowest ever tally in Lok Sabha with only one seat. The veteran is the Congress’s best bet to inject some vigour in the party

CHHAGAN BHUJBAL, 72

The veteran NCP legislator is the most influential OBC leader in the state. His main task is to break the OBC vote bank, loyal to the BJP. A taint of money laundering could be his biggest disadvantage

PRITHVIRAJ CHAVAN, 73

The former chief minister is likely to work as the eyes and ears of the Congress high command in Mumbai. He will also be a watchdog, especially for the NCP ministers

SUBHASH DESAI, 77

A confidant of Uddhav Thackeray and an experienced administrator, he is likely to be a strategist and a helping hand for the inexperienced CM. He’ll be a bridge between the government and the party

SANJAY RAUT, 58

Executive editor of Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna, he will be responsible for the government’s image. He will be the link man for the three alliance partners

DEVENDRA FADNAVIS, 49

Hurt by the Shiv Sena’s ‘backstabbing’, Fadnavis will be more aggressive than before. With his network of informers, he could corner the government on any issue

CHANDRAKANT PATIL, 60

The state BJP president will be tasked with re-energising the party’s cadre after its humiliating exit from the government, besides rehabilitating leaders like Eknath Khadse, Vinod Tawde and Pankaja Munde