Cleared my stance last week, will support BJP in whatever decision they take: Shinde on Maharashtra CM

Home ministry becomes bone of contention between BJP, Shiv Sena. Meanwhile, the finance portfolio is likely to be with NCP.

Mumbai: Reaffirming his support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Maharashtra’s caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday that the BJP leadership would decide on his successor and whosoever is named would have his total support.

However, the Shiv Sena is still pressing for the crucial Home portfolio even as Shinde’s son and three-time Kalyan MP Dr Shrikant Shinde seems to be the party’s choice for the post of Deputy CM.

BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis, who calls the shots for the saffron party and is the frontrunner for the CM’s post, is reluctant to part with the Home ministry.

Shinde’s statement comes a day after Pawar made it clear that the state will have one CM from BJP and two deputies from the other two parties of the MahaYuti.

In the previous government, Shinde was the CM while Fadnavis and Pawar were the two Deputy CMs, holding charge of the Home and Finance ministries, respectively.

Asked about this Shinde said: “The Maha Yuti allies - BJP, NCP, and Shiv Sena will sit together and will decide the government formation through consensus…there is are no differences at all.”

“In fact, last week itself I have stated my position and extended full support…you (Modi and Shah) take a decision on the CM. Whatever is your decision and whoever is your candidate, the Shiv Sena will fully support you,” Shinde said before flying out of Dare, his village in the Satara district to his bungalow in Thane city.

Shinde was not keeping well and decided to rest for a couple of days in his village.

As he landed in Thane, senior Shiv Sena leader and MLA Deepak Kesarkar spoke to him briefly in private and drove towards Mumbai.

On his return, some of the senior leaders called on him to discuss the emerging situation.

Meanwhile, Fadnavis held a meeting with state BJP President Chandrashekar Bawankule, to discuss various modalities including the 5 December swearing-in ceremony.

The BJP was to call its Legislature Party (LP) meeting on Monday, however, MLAs are awaiting formal communication.

However, highly-placed sources said that an informal meeting of the BJP is expected on Monday.

The Shiv Sena LP has given full authority to Shinde, who is the chief leader of the party while NCP LP has elected Ajit Pawar as its leader.

Even as Fadnavis name was doing rounds since the results came out on November 23, several other names have emerged.

“People of Maharashtra have already chosen the candidate…we are awaiting the official stamping of the name,” said former union minister Raosaheb Patil-Danve.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena spokesperson and MLA Sanjay Shirsat said that they have sought the Home department. "Yes, as a natural justice we have asked...when Fadnavis was the Deputy CM the Home ministry was with him," he said. "We have conveyed (our desire)....Shah and BJP President JP Nadda will decide," said Shiv Sena MLA Shambhuraj Desai.

As far as the Finance ministry is concerned, it will remain with NCP.