Maharashtra: Amid speculation over who will become the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shiv Sena chief and caretaker CM Eknath Shinde on Wednesday said that he and his party will fully support the BJP leadership's decision on the next Maharashtra CM.
Shinde made the remarks while addressing a press conference in Thane, nearly four days after BJP-led Mahayuti received a thumping majority in the state assembly election.
Shinde said he spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah and told them he wouldn't be an obstacle in forming the government and would abide by their decision.
“I have told the Prime Minister that if there is any problem in forming the government because of me, then do not bring any doubt in your mind. We will abide by whatever decision you take on the Chief Minister's post. The decision taken by the leadership of BJP will be accepted by us.”
The caretaker CM also said that a meeting of Mahayuti alliance partners will take place on Thursday, November 28, to hold detailed discussions before making a decision.
According to several media reports, Devendra Fadnavis, who was the Deputy Chief Minister in the Shinde government, is likely to be the next CM of Maharashtra. Fadnavis is also the second person after Vasantrao Naik to complete a full tenure as CM from 2014 to 2019.
Shinde added that he is satisfied with his work in the past two and a half years and considers himself a “common man.”
“Mahayuti has taken forward the work and schemes the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MV) had stopped. The victory is of the people. All Mahayuti members worked hard. I myself used to work till early morning. Even today, I consider myself a 'sevak'. I never considered myself a CM, rather a ‘common man’,” said Shinde.
Shinde added, “Through schemes, we have done something for every member of the family. We moved forward with the thoughts of Babasaheb and Anand Dighe. I thank PM Modi and Amit Shah for supporting me.”
The caretaker CM added that the votes the Mahayuti alliance received in the election are a testament to their work, including the schemes implemented.
“The new identity which I have received as 'Ladka Bhau' due to the 'Ladki Bahin scheme' is bigger than any post,” said Shinde.
The Mahayuti recorded a landslide victory, winning 230 out of 288 seats in the recently held Maharashtra Assembly polls. The BJP bagged 132 seats, the Shiv Sena 57, and NCP 41 seats.
The MVA managed to win just 46 seats together. The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) won 10 seats, Congress got 16, and Shiv Sena (UBT) 20 seats.
