Shortly after Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde clarified that his party won’t be an ‘obstacle’ in government formation in Maharashtra, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said that there has never been any disagreements in the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday evening, Fadnavis said, “In our Mahayuti, there has never been any disagreement with each other. We have always made decisions together. Even before the elections, we said that we will decide together after the elections (on CM’s choice). Those who had some doubts, Shinde ji has done the job of removing these doubts. Soon, we will sit with our leaders and take an appropriate decision.”
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Eknath Shinde earlier today said he has assured PM Modi of abiding by whatever decision the BJP takes on choosing the next Maharashtra chief minister. Addressing a press conference at his house in Thane, Shinde said he will “fully support” BJP leadership’s decision to name the next CM, and won’t obstruct the process.
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“I called PM Modi and Amit Shah yesterday and told them to decide (on who will be the CM post), and assured them that I will abide by whatever decision they take,” Shinde said. “Our Shiv Sena will fully support the BJP’s decision to name the next Maharashtra CM. There is no speed breaker from our side,” Shinde said.
Shinde said that there is a meeting in Delhi tomorrow with Amit Shah and all the related decisions will be taken there.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule thanked Shinde for stating that the decision of the top BJP leadership on the next chief minister of the state will be acceptable to him.
Speaking to reporters in Nagpur soon after Shinde made clear his stand, Bawankule slammed the opposition for trying to spread rumours and cast aspersions on Shinde’s character. “I want to thank Shinde. He today made clear his stand on the chief minister’s post. He has taken an important stand. I am proud of him,” the BJP leader said.
Congress president Nana Patole attacked the ruling alliance and alleged that the BJP’s central leadership pressured the Shiv Sena leader to give up his claim on the chief minister’s post.
Addressing a press conference soon after Shinde’s presser, Patole said it was suspicious that so much time was being taken to form the next government despite the Mahayuti alliance getting a huge mandate. “The BJP’s central leadership pressured Shinde to give up his claim on the CM post,” he said.
In the November 20 assembly polls, the Mahayuti retained power in Maharashtra, pocketing a whopping 230 of the 288 assembly seats. The BJP won 132 seats, the Shiv Sena 57 and the NCP got 41 seats.In the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), the Shiv Sena (UBT) won 20 seats, the Congress 16 and the NCP (SP) candidates won 10 seats.
The ruling alliance fought the elections under the leadership of Shinde. After the election results were announced on Saturday, Shiv Sena leaders pressed for implementation of Bihar pattern in Maharashtra, where the Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar was given the chief ministerial position despite the BJP bagging more seats than his party in the assembly elections.
