MUMBAI: With no decision in the Mahayuti yet on who will be CM, Eknath Shinde, accompanied by deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, met governor CP Radhakrishnan and tendered his resignation and that of his cabinet. The governor has asked Shinde to continue to hold charge of his post till alternate arrangements are made, so Shinde will continue as caretaker CM.
Sena MLA Deepak Kesarkar said the resignation is a formality and a decision on the new CM will be taken in New Delhi. With clamour growing in the Sena for him to be CM again, Shinde appealed to Sena workers – some of whom came up with the slogan ”Ek’nath hain to safe hain’ to push for him as CM – not to gather at Varsha, the CM’s official residence, to demand that he be made CM.
Shinde said in a post on X, “After the great victory of Mahayuti, our govt will be formed once again in the state. As Mahayuti, we contested the election together and are still together today. Out of love for me, some congregations have appealed to everyone to gather together and come to Mumbai. I am deeply grateful for your love. But I appeal that no one should come together in my support in such a manner. Once again, it is my humble request that Shiv Sena workers should not assemble at Varsha or anywhere else. The Mahayuti has been and will continue to be strong for a strong and prosperous Maharashtra.”
Meanwhile, Sena functionary Ramdas Kadam on Tuesday said that because of Ajit Pawar’s NCP, the Sena’s bargaining power to claim the CM’s post had reduced in the Mahayuti. Kadam said that NCP had said that they were ‘okay’ with BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis as CM. “We feel Eknath Shinde should be CM, BJP thinks Fadnavis should be CM. Ajit Pawar has surrendered. He has reduced our bargaining power. No matter what happens, there will be no spat in the Mahayuti. We fought the polls under Eknath Shinde and we have got big success,” Kadam, a former minister, said.
He added, “People have given a huge mandate to the Mahayuti. We are together and we will abide by whatever decision New Delhi takes. PM Modi and Amit Shah put faith in Shinde and fought the polls. We will come together and take Maharashtra forward on the path of development. We have full faith in Delhi’s leadership. , Before the elections, Amit Shah had said that all three parties would sit and decide. Nothing apart from this was said.”
While Ajit Pawar was on Sunday unanimously elected group leader of the NCP legislature party, sources said on the question of the chief minister’s post, the party has taken the view that in view of the assembly polls results, it would be appropriate if Devendra Fadnavis is placed at the helm of affairs in the state.
Sena MP Naresh Mhaske had said on Monday that Shinde should be declared CM by the NDA top brass by following the ‘Bihar pattern.’