CM’s Message: Shiv Sena bats for Eknath Shinde, BJP bats for Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai, November 26 (IANS): Even as the BJP is yet to open its cards when it comes to the chief minister’s post in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena on Tuesday took aggressive stances, saying it had conveyed to deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis that party chief Eknath Shinde is expected to continue leading the party. Chief Minister after MahaYuti’s landslide victory in the Assembly elections.

“BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP fought the Assembly elections as a grand alliance and recorded an exceptional performance. All of us, Shiv Sainiks and voters, want a government under whose leadership we achieved this success, under whose leadership the MahaYuti contested the elections,” said senior Shiv Sena leader Shambhuraj Desai.

He added that all Shiv Sena MPs want Eknath Shinde to lead the government once again.

“We discussed this in the Shiv Sena meeting and on behalf of our party, some senior members met Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and conveyed to him the sentiments of the legislators and party leaders (that Eknath Shinde should become the chief minister,” Desai said.

He clarified that there is no competition or struggle for the post of chief minister among MahaYuti partners, adding that a decision for the post of chief minister will be taken through mediation.

“Shiv Sena lawmakers have authorized Eknath Shinde to take decisions regarding government formation and the post of chief minister. Therefore, if any decision has to be taken as a Shiv Sena party, it will be taken only by Eknath Shinde and it will be acceptable to all our leaders, MLAs, workers and office bearers,” he, however, hinted that the party has not given up its claims on the post of Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, Naresh Mhaske, close confidant of Eknath Shinde, said that the MahaYuti can adopt the model of Bihar in Maharashtra whereby the BJP can give the chief minister’s post to Shiv Sena and Eknath Shinde, despite the fact that the party won 57 seats against 132 for the BJP.

Shiv Sena Minister Deepak Kesarkar said the government would be formed as per the suggestions of BJP party leaders.

“Every activist feels that their leader should be the chief minister. But all three parties have said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will take a decision on the chief minister’s post,” Kesarkar said.

He added that Eknath Shinde also clearly stated that they all will accept the decision taken by Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah regarding the post of Chief Minister.

On Tuesday, Eknath Shinde resigned as chief minister after the expiration of the term of the 14th Assembly, but Governor CP Radhakrishnan asked him to continue serving as caretaker chief minister until the new chief minister takes oath.

However, Shiv Sena minister Deepak Kesarkar downplayed Shinde’s resignation saying it was a formality as he had accepted the charge of caretaker chief minister.

“Eknath Shinde is not angry at all. There is no discontent in Shiv Sena. Eknath Shinde has already told BJP leaders in Delhi that the decision taken by them regarding the chief minister’s post would be acceptable to him and the party. So I think a good decision will be taken in Delhi,” Kesarkar said.

He added that this is the first time that Maharashtra is giving so much love to one party and alliance, adding that earlier, under the leadership of Yashwantrao Chavan, the Congress had won 222 seats in the state.

“His record was broken this time by our grand alliance. We are very happy about it. Besides, the state will soon have the chief minister of this big strong alliance. The post of the chief minister will be decided in Delhi and we hope that the party leaders in Delhi will take a good decision,” Kesarkar said.

Meanwhile, BJP sources said Fadnavis will take over as the next chief minister in the next two to three days in the grand inauguration ceremony which is likely to be held at Wankhede Stadium or Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park .

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and some central ministers, BJP chief ministers and chief ministers of NDA-ruled states are expected to attend the inauguration ceremony.