Eknath Shinde ends Maharashtra suspense, to take oath as deputy CM today

Mumbai: The nearly fortnight-long political drama in Maharashtra ended on Thursday after Eknath Shinde agreed to be the Deputy chief minister in the new Maha Yuti government.

BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis would be sworn in as the new Chief Minister later today.

Shinde would take oath as deputy CM along with Ajit Pawar.

Governor C P Radhakrishnan will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the trio.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be present at the function.

The development took place hours before Union Home Minister Amit Shah met Fadnavis, Shinde and Pawar in Mumbai.

To convince Shinde, Fadnavis has held three meetings with him and also sent his close aide Girish Mahajan to the now caretaker CM three to four times.

Shiv Sena MLAs too mounted pressure on Shinde saying that if he does not agree to become the Deputy CM none of them would assume ministerial responsibilities.

“Shinde Saheb has agreed, we are going with the necessary letter to the Raj Bhavan,” said Shiv Sena MLA Uday Samant.