Shiv Sena MLAs, leaders mount pressure on Eknath Shinde to take up Deputy CM's post

Mumbai: Newly-elected Shiv Sena MLAs on Wednesday met party president Eknath Shinde and urged him to take up the post of deputy chief minister in new Maharashtra government to be helmed by BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis.

Party legislators said they have been meeting Shinde, who is currently the caretaker chief minister, since the last two days to convince him to become part of the new government.

All through the day, the MLAs made a beeline to 'Varsha', the CM's official residence, to meet the outgoing chief minister.

"We urged him to be part of the new government as this will both help the party as well as the dispensation. We are hopeful that he will honour our requests," party MLA Bharat Gogavale said.

Another party leader said all MLAs and MPs have been insisting that Shinde joins the new dispensation.

Despite the Shiv Sena winning 57 seats in the 288-member state assembly, party head Shinde is not very keen on taking up the post of deputy CM, having served as the CM for nearly two-and-a-half years.

Earlier in the day, Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant said, "More than Eknath Shinde's wish, we - around 60 - 61 MLAs (including independents) - want him (Shinde) to lead us in the government. This is our firm stand. There are no ifs and buts on this. Shinde should become deputy CM and this is the desire of Shiv Sainiks, MLAs and MPs."

According to Samant, Shinde said he will tour the state as the Shiv Sena chief. But the party wants him (Shinde) to be the deputy CM and part of the administration, the former minister added.

Fadnavis will be sworn in as the next chief minister on Thursday, when two deputy chief ministers, including NCP leader Ajit Pawar, will also be sworn in at the ceremony at the sprawling Azad Maidan in south Mumbai in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, there is no clarity yet on whether Shinde would take up the post.

After returning from his native village in Satara, Shinde had been camping in Thane citing health problems, sparking speculation of internal discord in the Mahayuti alliance. However, he returned to Mumbai on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters at the Raj Bhavan on Wednesday, Chief Minister-elect Fadnavis said, "I met Eknath Shinde yesterday and told him that it is the wish of both the Shiv Sena and Mahayuti members that he should be with us in this government. I have full faith that he will be with us."

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Assembly Elections 2024 | The Maharashtra Assembly polls took place against the backdrop of a fractured political landscape in the western state where the Shiv Sena and NCP went up against the Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar factions, even as the BJP and Congress tried to make their mark. Maha Yuti are currently comfortably poised to win. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM faced a challenge after Hemant Soren's arrest and Champai, a longstanding party member, joining the BJP, but look set to retain power with its I.N.D.I.A. allies. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.

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