While the suspense continues over who will be the next Maharashtra Chief Minister, Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde resigned as the CM on Tuesday. He tendered his resignation days after the ruling Mahayuti alliance retained power after a landslide victory in the assembly election.
Shinde on Tuesday morning met Governor C P Radhakrishnan and tendered his resignation. The governor asked Shinde to act as a caretaker chief minister till a new CM is sworn in.
The Shiv Sena chief was accompanied by his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar. The term of the Maharashtra assembly ends on November 26.
BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena supremo Eknath Shinde are reportedly vying for the top political position of Maharashtra. The BJP’s claim for the post of the chief minister was bolstered by its performance in the assembly election as it emerged as the single-largest party; it won 132 of the 148 seats it contested.
BJP’s ally Shiv Sena won 57 seats whereas Ajit Pawar’s National Congress Party won 41 seats. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a major setback. The Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav Thackeray, won only 20 seats, Congress managed 16, and the NCP(SP) led by Sharad Pawar won just 10 seats.
Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena’s spokesperson, Sheetal Mhatre, reportedly told the media that the Maratha community wants him to continue in the top post. It was also desirable that Shinde should continue as chief minister in view of the coming elections to the local bodies in the state, the leader added.
