Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will visit New Delhi on Friday, his first tour of the national capital after taking the oath of his new office. As per inputs, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis will accompany CM Eknath on a two-day visit to the national capital. While the official engagements were not disclosed, both the leaders will reportedly meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP National President JP Nadda, and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh during their visit. Shinde and Fadnavis were administered oath as CM and Deputy CM on June 30.
News agency PTI cited CM Shinde's tour itinerary as stating that will take a government-chartered flight for New Delhi on Friday evening. Then, as per other inputs, the Chief Minister and his Deputy will meet senior leaders such as PM Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President JP Nadda, and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday.
The meeting comes as the new Maharashtra government is yet to get its cabinet ministers. Earlier it was reported that the expansion of the Maharashtra cabinet led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is likely to take place in two phases. Sources said that the first announcements will be made before the presidential election to be held on July 18 and the second phase will take place after the polls.
As per sources, 28 ministerial posts will be with BJP, out of which 8 will be ministers of state. Meanwhile, the Shinde camp is expected to secure 14 ministerial posts.
More On It: Maha Cabinet Expansion To Take Place In Two Phases. BJP To Get 28 Ministerial Posts, Shinde Camp 14: Sources
According to PTI, CM Shinde will leave for Pune on Saturday evening and proceed to the temple town of Pandharpur for taking part in the 'Ashadi Ekadashi' maha puja early Sunday morning. Pandharpur in Solapur district houses a famous temple dedicated to Lord Vitthal and Goddess Rukmini.
It has been a long-standing tradition in Maharashtra for the Chief Minister of the day and his spouse to attend the early morning prayers at the temple on 'Ashadi Ekadashi', a prominent Hindu festival.
Shinde's Delhi visit comes also ahead of the July 11 hearing in the Supreme Court on a petition seeking disqualification of 15 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs.
Rebellion by a section of Sena MLAs, led by Shinde, resulted in the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government last month.