Eknath Shinde Asks Supporters To Avoid Gathering At ‘Varsha’ As Suspense Over Maha CM Continues

Mumbai: Amid suspense over who would head the next Mahayuti government in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has apparently hinted at not being in the contention for the chief minister post.

Accompanied by Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, he submitted his resignation to Governor Governor CP Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday and will serve as caretaker of the new Mahayuti-led government.

His post

In a late night post, Shinde asked his supporters not to gather at his official residence, ‘Varsha’ in south Mumbai or anywhere else to press for his return to the chair. Shinde also wrote that the alliance will continue to be strong for a prosperous Maharashtra.

“After the great victory of Mahayuti, our government will be formed once again in the state. As a grand alliance, we contested the election together and are still together today. Out of love for me, some congregations have appealed to everyone to gather together and come to Mumbai. I am deeply grateful for your love. But I appeal that no one should come together in my support in such a manner. Once again it is my humble request that Shiv Sena workers should not assemble at Varsha Niwas or anywhere else,” according to the rough translation of Shinde’s post in regional language.

“The grand alliance has been and will continue to be strong for a strong and prosperous Maharashtra,” he added.

The speculation

The Mahayuti coalition of the BJP, Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party secured a landslide victory in Maharashtra after it won 235 of the 288 Assembly seats.

Earlier reports indicated that the BJP was pushing to reinstate Devendra Fadnavis as the CM with NCP Ajit Pawar’s faction supporting his return the office he held between 2014 and 2019 and then, briefly, for a few days in 2019. The BJP’s claim for the post was bolstered as it emerged as the single-largest party by winning 132 of the 148 seats it contested in the state.

The term of the current Maharashtra State Assembly ends on November 26.

Likely Cabinet composition 

Shinde Sena might get 12 ministerial berths and NCP around 10 ministerial berths while the BJP is likely to keep 21 ministerial berths for itself. There are also indications that top four portfolios of Home, Finance, Urban Development and Revenue that the BJP was keen on retaining would now be shared with the alliance partners, the Indian Express reported, quoting sources.

The maximum permissible limit for the Council of Ministers, including the CM, in Maharashtra is 43.