Maharashtra’s caretaker Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde is reportedly unwell, with a team of doctors visiting him at his village in Satara to assess his condition. The news follows a statement from Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat, who revealed that Shinde is expected to make a significant political decision within the next 24 hours, heightening the speculation over who will lead the Mahayuti-ruled state.
Dr. RM Patre, Shinde’s family doctor, provided an update on the CM's health, telling ANI, "He is doing fine now. He is suffering from a fever and its side effects. It's been 2 days now. We have given him antibiotics. We are a team of 3-4 doctors attending to him."
This news comes as Maharashtra prepares for the swearing-in ceremony of the new BJP-led Mahayuti government. The event is set to take place on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at 5 PM at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, and will be attended by the Honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi.
Chandrashekhar Bawankule, the Maharashtra BJP President, shared the details of the upcoming ceremony on X (formerly Twitter), stating, "Oath-taking Ceremony of the Mahayuti Government in Maharashtra. The oath-taking ceremony will be held in the presence of the Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the pride of the world, on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at 5 PM at Azad Maidan, Mumbai."
In the recently concluded assembly elections, the BJP emerged as the dominant force, securing 132 seats, the highest among the Mahayuti alliance constituents. Shinde’s Shiv Sena won 57 seats, while Ajit Pawar's NCP secured 41. In contrast, the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition suffered a major setback. The Congress registered one of its worst performances, winning just 16 seats, while Sharad Pawar’s NCP(SP) secured 10 seats, and Uddhav Thackeray’s UBT bagged 20.