New Delhi: In the most unanticipated move, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis has proposed estranged Sena leader Eknath Shinde’s name for Maharashtra CM post. Fadnavis, in a press meet congratulated Shinde assuring all support to him.
Meanwhile, Fadnavis may take charge as Deputy CM in Shinde-led government.
Addressing a press conference earlier, Fadnavis said that in 2019, BJP and Shiv Sena fought together and the alliance got complete majority. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also proposed his name for Chief Minister’s post during the campaign. However, Shiv Sena chose to go with the party Balasaheb Thackeray was strongly against and joined hands with Congress and NCP to form a government that was corrupt and did not do any work in past two and a half years.
There was anger in the Shiv Sena cadre who wanted to break away from MVA. However, Uddhav Thackeray left Hindutva and became more close to NCP and Congress leaders than his own party men, Fadnavis said.
However, Fadnavis earlier said he will not be a part of government adding that the government will work for development and progress of the state that was lying in a limbo for these past two and a half years. It wasn’t until BJP president JP Nadda said central leadership urged Devendra Fadnavis to take over as Deputy CM that latter decided to take up the post. ‘We want Fadnavis to be the deputy CM,’ Nadda said in another surprise announcement minutes before the oath taking.
Sena (rebels) as well as BJP MLAs and some independents will be sworn in as ministers during the expansion, Fadnavis added.
Shinde said BJP Shiv Sena is natural aliance which is what we tried telling Uddhav Thackeray.This is not about power, it is about the Hindutva ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray, Shinde said.
He also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah, party president JP Nadda for supporting him.
My special thanks to Devendra Fadnavis for his big heart and choosing a Balasaheb Thackeray’s Shiv Sainik as CM despite having as many as 120 MLAs, said Shinde.
Shiv Sena rebel Eknath Shinde, who arrived in Mumbai from Goa on Thursday afternoon, met senior Devendra Fadnavis at the latter’s official residence in south Mumbai to discuss formation of the next government in Maharashtra following the collapse of the MVA dispensation a day ago.
Shinde and Fadnavis held a brief meeting at the latter’s residence before both of them headed to the Raj Bhavan along with several BJP leaders.
The BJP has said that it has the support of a total of 170 MLAs, including those from Shinde’s rebel faction.
The Mumbai police had made heavy security arrangements in view of Shinde’s arrival in the city.
Roads were emptied so that Shinde’s cavalcade faces no hindrance while going to ‘Sagar’, the official bungalow of Fadnavis located at Malabar Hill in south Mumbai.
Joint Commissioner of Police (law and order) Vishwas Nangre Patil led the cavalcade himself while other police officials stood guard throughout the route for quick movement and also to ensure that there were no protests by Shiv Sena supporters, an official said.
“Shinde, who landed at Mumbai airport by chartered flight this afternoon, was escorted by the senior police officials from the airport to South Mumbai. Traffic on the route was stopped to facilitate the passage Shinde’s convoy,” officials said.
Shinde was seen waving to supporters throughout the route.
Some Shiv Sena workers, who tried to hold a protest outside ‘Sagar’, were detained, the officials added.