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Ramdas Athawale says Eknath Shinde should become deputy CM or a central minister. Shinde camp seeks top post citing Haryana, Bihar examples
(From left) Devendra Fadnavis, Ramdas Athawale, Eknath Shinde. (PTI File)
After Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) Ajit Pawar, another National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ally – union minister and Republican Party of India (RPI) president Ramdas Athawale – on Tuesday came out in support of Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Devendra Fadnavis to be the next chief minister (CM) of Maharashtra.
The Eknath Shinde camp, however, is citing the example of Haryana and even Bihar to push for Shinde as the CM. “The BJP contested the election in Haryana under the leadership of their chief minister Nayab Singh Saini…and he was made the CM post the election win. Similarly, the Mahayuti contested the Maharashtra elections under the leadership of CM Eknath Shinde and he should become the CM again,” Naresh Mahaske, Shinde Sena MP and a close aide of Shinde, told News18. He also reiterated that the Bihar example should also be followed as the BJP had made Nitish Kumar the CM despite him getting fewer seats.
But Shinde seems to be getting isolated in the matter as a second ally of the NDA said Fadnavis should be the CM. “The Maharashtra dispute should end soon…The BJP high command has decided that Devendra Fadnavis should be made the CM, but Shinde is unhappy and his displeasure needs to be addressed,” said Athawale.
#WATCH | Delhi: On CM face in Maharashtra, Union Minister & RPI-Athawale President, Ramdas Athawale says, “The Maharashtra dispute should end soon…BJP’s high command has decided that Devendra Fadnavis should be made the CM but Eknath Shinde is unhappy and his displeasure needs… pic.twitter.com/vB6J2FYZ5u— ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2024
He said the BJP is the largest party now with a lot of seats, and added that even the BJP would not agree to not have its own CM. “I think that Shinde should take two steps back, just like Devendra Fadnavis took four steps back and worked under his leadership. Shinde should become the deputy CM or at least a central minister. PM Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah will definitely think about it. Some decisions should be taken quickly. We very much need Eknath Shinde and his 57 MLAs,” Athawale said.
A lot is also being read into Shinde’s message on X where he asked his supporters to not come together in congregations to his residence, Varsha. “Once again, it is my humble request that Shiv Sena workers should not assembly at Varsha Niwas or anywhere else,” Shinde said. A lot of Shiv Sena supporters are appealing for Shinde to be made the CM again.
