The drama over Maharashtra’s next Chief Minister remains on as the caretaker, CM Eknath Shinde, held a press conference in Thane on Wednesday. Shinde further humbled himself, saying, “I have not arrived here as a Chief Minister but as a man from the street. I do not like protocols to be followed as I am just an ordinary man.”
Shinde also disclosed that he has spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and promised the PM not to hinder the process of the formation of a new government in the state. His resignation as Chief Minister earlier this week means a new government will be formed. The succession plan for the next CM is still hanging in the balance as coalition leaders fail to make a pact.
Earlier today, with Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, Shinde went to Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan to resign from his post. However, contrary to what many people think, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction has publicly pledged to remain in the Chief Minister’s seat. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat said, “We want the CM to be from Shiv Sena. We fought the election under Eknath Shinde; accordingly, the top leadership will bless him. The formation of the new government will take place possibly before December 2, and the oath-taking ceremony will be performed on a large scale, probably in the Wankhede Stadium.”
Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske also rubbished such reports that there is confusion over the choice of the CM, saying that it is still a process that will take time. In the latest assembly elections, Maharashtra’s ruling Mahayuti alliance, led by the BJP partners Shiv Sena with the faction led by Shinde and NCP led by the faction headed by Ajit Pawar, came out the winners, clinching 230 of the 288 assembly seats. The BJP had contested 132 assembly seats and secured 57 seats with the Shiv Sena and 41 with the NCP, headed by Ajit Pawar.
There should be another expectation that the coalition will shortly complete the formulation of the proposed CM; eyes are now turned to this.
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