Following Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut's claim that Eknath Shinde is the CM for just a few days now as the disqualification of 16 MLAs is certain, Maharashtra BJP leader Narayan Rane said that the BJP government will remain strong and in power till 2024. He added that Eknath Shinde will remain in power as the Chief Minister of the state till 2024 elections. While talking to news agency ANI, Rane said, "Our government will remain strong and Eknath Shinde will be the chief minister till 2024."
After the political upheaval in Maharashtra on Sunday, where Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of the state after he turned rebel and joined the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis government, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that Eknath Shinde is the CM for just a few days now as the disqualification of 16 MLAs is certain, as reported by the news agency PTI. The Uddhav Thackeray-led faction has claimed that Ajit Pawar will replace Shinde for the top post.
"Eknath Shinde is the CM for just a few days now as the disqualification of 16 MLAs is certain. That's the reason why Ajit Pawar and others have been inducted," Sanjay Raut said, as quoted by PTI.
Meanwhile, NCP has moved a disqualification petition against Ajit Pawar and eight others who broke ranks with the party, said party leader Jayant Patil on Sunday. Addressing a press conference late Sunday, Patil said the disqualification petition has been sent to Speaker Rahul Narvekar, as per a PTI report. An email has also been sent to Election Commission of India informing that the rank and file of the NCP is with party chief Sharad Pawar, Patil added.
Pawar took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra while his loyalists including Chhagan Bhujbal, Hasan Mushrif and others were sworn-in as cabinet ministers.