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Eknath Shinde has hinted at stepping down from his post of Maharashtra Chief Minister. He has urged his supporters not to gather in his favour, emphasising unity and strength in the Mahayuti alliance.
Eknath Shinde (PTI file photo)
As the speculation over the new chief minister of Maharashtra continues, Eknath Shinde has apparently hinted towards stepping down as the present Chief Minister of the state. Sources suggest Shinde may serve as the caretaker chief minister until a new government is formed.
In an X post shared in the wee hours of Tuesday, Shinde asked his supporters to not gather at Varsha Niwas or anywhere else to press the ruling Mahayuti alliance for his return to the chair. Shinde also wrote that the alliance will continue to be strong for a prosperous Maharashtra.
“After the great victory of Mahayuti, our government will be formed once again in the state. As a grand alliance, we contested the election together and are still together today. Out of love for me, some congregations have appealed to everyone to gather together and come to Mumbai,” a rough translation of Shinde’s post in regional language suggested.
“I am deeply grateful for your love. But I appeal that no one should come together in my support in such a manner. Once again it is my humble request that Shiv Sena workers should not assemble at Varsha Niwas or anywhere else,” he added.
“The grand alliance has been and will continue to be strong for a strong and prosperous Maharashtra,” Shinde’s post read.
महायुतीच्या प्रचंड विजयानंतर राज्यात पुन्हा एकदा आपले सरकार स्थापन होणार आहे. महायुती म्हणून आपण एकत्रित निवडणूक लढवली आणि आजही एकत्रच आहोत. माझ्यावरील प्रेमापोटी काही मंडळींनी सर्वांना एकत्र जमण्याचे, मुंबईत येण्याचे आवाहन केले आहे. तुमच्या या प्रेमासाठी मी अत्यंत मनापासून ऋणी…— Eknath Shinde – एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) November 25, 2024
SHIV SAINIKS HOLD PRAYER MEETS IN THANE
Shinde’s post came hours after several Shiv Sainiks on Monday organised prayer meets across temples in Thane to ensure Eknath Shinde gets a second term on the top post.
Prayers were held at the Siddhi Vinayak Temple in Kashish Park locality, with many women claiming the Mahayuti sweep was due to Shinde’s connect with the masses, his accessibility and the ‘Ladki Bahin Yojana’.
Puja was also held in Daulat Nagar in Thane East, news agency PTI reported.
The report also quoted Lok Sabha MP Naresh Mhaske as saying that all Shiv Sainiks believe Shinde should be given a second term as the chief minister.
He expressed hope that Mahayuti leaders would follow the strategy applied in other states, such as Bihar, where leaders have been given opportunities based on merit, regardless of previous positions.
Thane district is the home turf of Shinde and he won the recent assembly polls from Kopri-Pachpakhadi by a margin of more than 1.2 lakh votes.
MAHARASHTRA ASSEMBLY ELECTION 2024
The Mahayuti alliance won a thumping majority in the Maharashtra assembly elections. However, the government formation process has been delayed after reports suggested the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) were supporting Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for the chief minister’s post.
Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena camp was pushing Eknath Shinde to return to his chair.
The BJP, led by Fadnavis, won the highest-ever 132 seats for the party, while the Shiv Sena led by Shinde bagged 57 seats.
Reports have suggested the formula for the government formation has been decided and Maharashtra will once again have two deputy chief ministers with one chief minister.
Sources said the BJP is likely to have 24 ministers, and Shiv Sena 12, while the NCP is likely to have 10 ministers in the new government.
For the same, Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar are likely to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah soon.
MAHARASHTRA GOVERNMENT FORMATION
As the Maharashtra assembly election results were declared on November 23, reports also suggested that the new chief minister would be sworn in as early as November 26.
However, no decision has yet been made on who would take oath as the chief minister.
Meanwhile, a legislature official dismissed reports that the President’s Rule may come into force if a new government is not in place by November 26, when the tenure of the 14th state assembly ends.
In fact, with the officials of the Election Commission submitting copies of the gazette with names of the newly-elected members of the state legislative assembly to Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan on Sunday, the 15th assembly is already in place, PTI quoted an official as saying.
