Eknath Shinde Resigns As Maharashtra CM Amid Suspense Over Mahayuti's CM Pick
The governor asked Shinde to act as a caretaker chief minister till a new CM is sworn in. The suspense over the chief minister's face continued despite the Mahayuti alliance securing a massive win.
Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde submitted his resignation to Governor CP Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai after the current assembly term ended on Tuesday. The governor asked Shinde to act as a caretaker chief minister till a new CM is sworn in.
Shinde visited the Raj Bhavan along with deputy Chief M inisters Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar. The term of the Maharashtra assembly ends on November 26 (Tuesday). The suspense over the chief minister's face continued despite the Mahayuti alliance of the BJP, Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP securing a massive victory in the state by winning 230 seats in the 288-member assembly.
Marathas Want Shinde To Continue As CM
Shiv Sena spokesperson Sheetal Mhatre has claimed that the Maratha community wants Shinde to continue in the top post. She said it was also desirable that Shinde should continue as chief minister in view of the coming elections to the local bodies in the state.
"Shinde successfully provided ten per cent reservation to the Maratha community (under the economically and socially backward category) and helped the community through the Annasaheb Patil and Sarathi corporations," she said, claiming that the community, hence, stood behind the Mahayuti in the elections.
"The demand that the chief minister should be from the Maratha community is gaining strength," she added.
Shinde, who hails from western Maharashtra's Satara district, belongs to the Maratha community. BJP leader and deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, considered to be the frontrunner for the CM's post, is a Brahmin from Nagpur.
A group of women met Shinde on Monday to express gratitude for the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, a scheme under which eligible women get Rs 1,500 per month. The scheme is said to have played a major role in the ruling coalition's electoral success.
Meanwhile, Shinde in a post on X appealed to his supporters to not throng his residence 'Varsha'.
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