He said that he had spoken with PM Modi and HM Shah, assuring them of Sena support.
NEW DELHI: Maharashtra’s caretaker Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, backed the BJP’s call on Maharashtra CM and pledged full support on Wednesday. Shinde said that the decision on the state’s next Chief Minister would be made by the BJP’s central leadership, and all partners of the Mahayuti alliance, including the Shiv Sena, will fully support it. With this declaration, the Mahayuti alliance is set to finalise the state’s next Chief Minister at a meeting on Thursday.
Speaking to the media, Shinde stated that he had spoken with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, assuring them that Shiv Sena would accept their decision unconditionally. He emphasised that he would not pose any obstacles to the alliance unity. “The Centre will decide on the CM’s position, and we will abide by it,” Shinde said. He added that a meeting involving all three alliance partners and Amit Shah was scheduled for Thursday, 28 November, where detailed discussions would be held before a final decision was made.
Shinde dismissed concerns about his role in government formation, saying, “Don’t think for a moment that I will cause any issues. Whatever decision is taken by the BJP, we will support it fully.” He also lauded the Mahayuti’s historic victory in Maharashtra, stating, “I have always seen myself as a common man, not as a Chief Minister.”
His statement paves the way for the BJP to appoint Devendra Fadnavis as Chief Minister potentially for a third term, according to a senior BJP leader. Shinde refuted rumours that he was upset about not securing a second term as CM. “No one is dissatisfied. We have worked collectively as the Mahayuti,” he said.
Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule expressed gratitude to Shinde for his commitment to supporting the BJP central leadership’s decision.