Satara: The wait for the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra continues. Caretaker Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde returned to Mumbai on Sunday after a short stay in his village in Satara, where he was resting after feeling unwell. The police in Satara honored him with a special ceremony before he flew back.
Speaking to reporters, Shinde said that the Chief Minister candidate from the Mahayuti alliance would be announced tomorrow. He reassured everyone that he is feeling better and has fully supported the decisions made by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP President JP Nadda. Shinde mentioned that he had been working hard without taking any breaks for two and a half years.
He expressed gratitude for the support he received, saying that people are still coming to visit him in his village. “This government will listen to its people,” he added. Shinde underscored the strong cooperation among the Mahayuti leaders, noting that their achievements over the past years have earned them a historic endorsement from the public. Thus, the opposition could not even appoint a Leader of the Opposition.
The final decision on who will be the Chief Minister is coming soon. Shinde, along with Devendra Fadnavis, who is seen as a strong contender, and NCP leader Ajit Pawar, met with Amit Shah and JP Nadda in Delhi to discuss the Chief Minister situation. The Maharashtra Assembly elections results announced on November 23 showed that the Mahayuti alliance scored a big victory. The BJP won 132 seats out of 280, while its partners, Shiv Sena and NCP, secured 57 and 41 seats respectively.