Amid speculations over the Chief Ministerial candidate from the newly elected Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra, the state's caretaker CM and Shiv Sena chief Ekanth Shinde addressed a press conference in the Thane district where he announced that the next Maharashtra CM will be from the BJP.


Shinde said he has conveyed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that whoever is elected as the CM by the Mahayuti alliance, Shiv Sainiks will support him.


"I have told the Prime Minister that if there is any problem in forming the government in Maharashtra because of me, then do not bring any doubt in your mind and whatever decision you take, that decision is acceptable to me. You are the head of our family. The way people of BJP accept your decision, we will also accept your decision in the same way. I made a phone call to PM Modi and HM Amit Shah yesterday and told them that there will be no problem in forming the government because of me," Shinde told reporters on Wednesday ending the suspense over the CM choice in Maharashtra.


Shinde said that he worked like a common man and he carried out developmental reforms for the people in the state. He said that he was able to carry out the works in the Maharashtra due to the support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. 






"I thank Amit Shah and the Prime Minister for giving me the opportunity to serve the people for 2.5 years," he said.





"I was working like an activist. I worked like a common man. I did not maintain any protocol," Shinde said in the presser. He further said that he is not among those who get upset, but among those who fight. 





 

Shinde reiterated that he is a "common man" and that he never considered himself as a Chief Minister, but merely a worker who worked for the welfare of the people. 

 

"This govt is of the common man. I never considered myself as the CM, I am a common man who works for the common man... On one hand, we brought development and on the other hand, we brought welfare schemes. I know what poverty is, I am a farmer's son... you got to have experience and understanding of what poverty is. We had thought that our govt will bring change in the lives of the people, so we launched 'Ladki Bahin Yojana' and everyone contributed in it," he said.

 





The Mahayuti alliance had retained its power in the Maharashtra Assembly polls held on November 20, the results for which were declared last week on November 23. Attaining a massive victory, the Mahayuti, which comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shinde's Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party, defeated the opposition's Maha Vikas Aghadi to win the polls. 












The BJP emerged as the largest party, winning 132 seats in the 288-member legislature. The Shiv Sena won 57 seats, while the NCP bagged 41 seats. In the MVA, the Shiv Sena (UBT) won 20 seats, Congress 16, and NCP (SP) secured ten seats.


After the election results were announced, Eknath Shinde resigned as the Maharashtra CM on Tuesday and assumed the role of caretaker Chief Minister until the new government was formed. Shinde, accompanied by Deputy CMs Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, met with Governor C P Radhakrishnan, who asked the Shiv Sena chief to assume the responsibility of caretaker until the new CM was sworn in. The need for this arose because the outgoing Assembly's term ended on Tuesday (November 26). 


However, even after days of victory, the Mahayuti has not announce its choice for the next Maharashtra Chief Minister, hinting at a rift in the alliance over the coveted post. 


Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat had hinted that clarity over the CM's position would emerge by Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, after discussions among Shinde, Fadnavis, and Pawar with top BJP brass, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Meanwhile, sources told ABP News that Shinde might quit the alliance and offer external support to the saffron party, incase Fadnavis is chosen the next CM.


Earlier today, Fadnavis had said that the answer regarding the decision on the next CM will be given soon and that the senior members of the three parties of Mahayuti were taking the decision on this together, ANI reported.


Union minister Ramdas Athawale stated on Wednesday that the BJP has decided to appoint Devendra Fadnavis as the Maharashtra CM, although the party is yet to confirm this officially.


With negotiations underway since the poll results were announced on Saturday, uncertainty has loomed regarding the choice for the next CM as the BJP too has been pressing for its claim on the chair. This delay in decision-making has in turn delayed the oath-taking ceremony in the state.