The BJP on Wednesday scored big in the ongoing game of thrones over the election of the Maharashtra Chief Minister with top contender and caretaker CM Eknath Shinde of the Shiv Sena playing ball.

Ahead of a crucial meeting of BJP-led NDA leaders (Shinde, BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis and NCP’s Ajit Pawar) with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Capital on Thursday to discuss government formation, Shinde said he would “abide by the decision of the top BJP leadership on the CM issue”.

“I spoke to both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah and told them that there would be no speed breakers from our side. We will go by what they decide,” Shinde told the media at his residence in Thane.

He, however, said “detailed deliberations on the issue (CM/government formation) would be held with Shah tomorrow and a final call taken”.

While BJP sources continued to maintain that party leader Fadnavis was the frontrunner for the CM’s post, the caretaker CM, while thanking PM Modi for supporting his government for two and a half years, presented his own credentials for the top job.