Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday reiterated his support for BJP-led leadership in Maharashtra, stating that the people had given a historic mandate to the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance. He also added that he had taken some time off for rest as he left for his hometown in Satara district after a busy election campaign and confirmed that he had fully recovered from a recent illness. "I am feeling better now. I came here to rest after the busy election schedule. I didn't take any leave during my 2.5 years as Chief Minister. People are still visiting me here. This government will listen to the people. I have already given my unconditional support to the party leadership, and I will stand by their decision," Shinde said.
Shinde, who travelled to his native village on Friday evening, added, "Our government's work over the past 2.5 years will be remembered in history. This is why the people gave us a historic mandate and denied the opposition even the chance to elect a Leader of the Opposition. All three allies of the Mahayuti have a good understanding. The Chief Minister candidate will be decided tomorrow."
'CM Would Be From BJP': Ajit Pawar
Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief Ajit Pawar earlier stated that the Chief Minister would be from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with the other two coalition partners holding Deputy Chief Ministerial positions. "During the meeting in Delhi, it was decided that the Mahayuti would form the government with the Chief Minister from BJP, while the remaining two parties would have Deputy Chief Ministers," Pawar said.
Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis – widely considered to be the frontrunner for the post of Chief Minister – Ajit Pawar, and other Mahayuti leaders met Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda in Delhi on Thursday evening to discuss the deadlock over the Chief Ministerial position.
The Maharashtra Assembly election results, declared on November 23, saw the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance achieve a landslide victory, but the alliance has yet to finalise its Chief Ministerial candidate.
The BJP emerged as the largest party with 132 seats in the 280-member Maharashtra Assembly, while its allies – the Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, and the NCP, led by Ajit Pawar – won 57 and 41 seats, respectively.
(With inputs from ANI)