Eknath Shinde Won't Be Part Of Govt If Fadnavis Made Maharashtra CM: Sources

The Mahayuti coalition performed impressively in the recent elections, winning 230 out of 288 seats, while Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) faced a setback in the elections.

Shinde, who hails from western Maharashtra's Satara district, belongs to the Maratha community.

Source : PTI

Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde may choose to stay out of the Maharashtra government and offer outside support to the BJP if Devendra Fadnavis is appointed as the state’s Chief Minister, sources told ABP News. Hectic discussions are underway within both the BJP and Shiv Sena camps after the Mahayuti coalition—comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP—clinched a decisive victory in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections.  

While the BJP, the single-largest party with 132 seats, is expected to stake its claim on the Chief Minister’s post, Shinde’s faction is pushing for his continuation in the role, citing the election’s focus on his leadership and economic policies.

According to sources, the BJP is expected to announce its decision soon, as insiders work to navigate Shinde’s demands and ensure coalition stability.

Shiv Sena spokesperson Sheetal Mhatre emphasized that the Maratha community strongly supports Shinde's continuation as CM. 

Shinde, who hails from Satara in western Maharashtra, is seen as a pivotal figure in the Marathi community. In contrast, BJP leader and deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, a frontrunner for the top post, is a Brahmin from Nagpur. 

As BJP presses its claim for the CM’s position, the decision may rest on balancing electoral merit with coalition demands. With local body elections looming, the Mahayuti’s choice of leadership could influence its future performance.  

Meanwhile, Shinde, who submitted his resignation as CM on Tuesday as the outgoing assembly's tenure ended, has been asked by Governor CP Radhakrishnan to continue as a caretaker chief minister until his successor is appointed.  
 
The Mahayuti coalition won 230 of the 288 seats, with the BJP leading at 132 seats, followed by the Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction at 57 seats, and Ajit Pawar's NCP at 41 seats.  

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) faced significant setbacks. The Congress managed just 16 seats, Sharad Pawar's NCP(SCP) won 10 seats, and Uddhav Thackeray's Sena (UBT) secured 20 seats.