Shiv Sena Legislators Support Eknath Shinde for CM Post: Deepak Kesarkar

GG News Bureau
Mumbai, 25th Nov. Maharashtra Minister and Shiv Sena leader Deepak Kesarkar stated on Sunday that his party’s legislators believe Eknath Shinde should continue as the Chief Minister following the Mahayuti coalition’s resounding victory in the state assembly elections. The ruling Mahayuti alliance, comprising Shiv Sena, BJP, and NCP, secured 230 out of 288 seats, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) won only 46 seats.

Kesarkar, after meeting Shinde at his Mumbai residence, praised the CM’s leadership for the Mahayuti’s electoral success. “Shiv Sena MLAs feel that Shinde should continue in the post as under his leadership, the Mahayuti worked effectively and achieved a spectacular victory,” he said. However, he added that Shinde, along with Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis (BJP) and Ajit Pawar (NCP), would make a joint decision on the CM position, emphasizing that the decision would be in the best interest of Maharashtra.

Speculation about the CM post has risen since BJP, led by Fadnavis, won 132 seats, while Shiv Sena, led by Shinde, secured 57 seats. Fadnavis and state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule have both denied any dispute over the CM issue, asserting that the Mahayuti alliance leadership would jointly decide.

In the meantime, Shinde was unanimously elected as the leader of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party. The resolution, passed at a meeting of all 57 Shiv Sena MLAs, also included expressions of gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their support, as well as appreciation for the people of Maharashtra for their faith in the Mahayuti alliance.