New Delhi: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray extended his best wishes to new Maharashtra Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis who took the office on June 30. In his message to Fadnavis, Thackeray praised him for accepting the role of deputy chief minister following the order of the party high command despite him being two-time chief minister.
Initially Fadnavis had denied to be part of the new government saying that he would support the government from outside, but later accepted to join the government on the word of the party high command.
Thackeray said that accepting the junior slot was not a “demotion” for Fadnavis adding that it has been done with an aim to meet a target.
Taking to Twitter, Thackeray wrote, “"I won't say anything about you being appointed the deputy chief minister as a promotion or demotion, I would only say this that when a target is to be aimed, the rope of the bow is pulled back with the arrow to hit the target. And this is not considered a demotion."
The MNS chief also extended his best wishes to Eknath Shinde for being sworn in as the 20th Chief Minister of Maharashtra and also cautioned him to take “measured steps”.
"My heartfelt congratulations to you on being sworn in as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. It is indeed a moment of happiness for us. Providence has given you this opportunity. I hope you will prove it with your confidence. Be alert. Take measured steps," Thackeray tweeted.
Eknath Shinde was ousted from Shiv Sena by party chief Uddhav Thackeray who had turned rebel and succeeded in becoming the Maharashtra CM from the post of Shiv Sena leader. He has been removed for indulging in “anti-party activities”, said a statement by the party.