As Race For Maharashtra CM Post Heats Up, Eknath Shinde Upset Over BJP's 'Claim' For Top Post: Sources

Eknath Shinde's reaction comes amid reports claiming that BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis is all set to take charge as Maharashtra Chief Minister, with the Shiv Sena leader likely to be Deputy CM.

File photo of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Source : Eknath Shinde Facebook

Amid reports that BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis is likely to become the next Maharashtra chief minister, Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde is upset with the Mahayuti ally, sources said on Monday. The Maharashtra Chief Minister is unhappy with the prospect of a BJP chief minister in the Mahayuti alliance.

Shinde's reaction comes amid reports claiming that BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis is all set to take charge as Maharashtra Chief Minister, with the Shiv Sena leader likely to be demoted to the position of Deputy CM along with NCP leader Ajit Pawar.

The BJP’s top leadership on Monday reportedly cleared Fadnavis’s name, with reports claiming that the proposal received the approval of Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Fadnavis earlier on Monday arrived in New Delhi, where he is expected to meet top BJP leadership over the government formation in Maharashtra.

However, PTI sources said that the formation of a new government in the state is delayed due to Shiv Sena’s insistence that Eknath Shinde continue as the chief minister. Shiv Sena spokesperson Naresh Mhaske has called for the 'Bihar model' to assert that Shinde should continue as the chief minister.

"We feel Shinde should be the chief minister, just like in Bihar where BJP did not look at the numbers but still made JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar the CM. Senior leaders of the Mahayuti (in Maharashtra) will ultimately take a decision," Mhaske told reporters on Monday.

BJP MLC Pravin Darekar, meanwhile, batted for Devendra Fadnavis for the CM's post, saying the deputy CM is the most capable candidate to lead the state.

BJP leader and former Union minister Raosaheb Danve said the party would soon hold a meeting of its legislators. "The BJP will soon call a meeting of its legislators. It is obvious that the BJP wants the CM's post," Danve said. He added that the final decision would be communicated to the central leadership after the party's internal discussions.

The ruling Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Ajit Pawar's NCP, and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, secured a thumping majority in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, winning 230 of the 288 seats, with the BJP emerging as the single-largest party with 132 seats.

Apart from the BJP, Shiv Sena got 57 and 41 went into the kitty of the NCP. The opposition Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) of Sharad Pawar managed to win just 16, 20 and 10 seats, respectively. While polls were held on November 20, results were declared on November 23. 

(With inputs from Vaibhav Parab)