• Sharad Pawar advises Uddhav Thackeray to appoint Eknath Shinde as Chief Minister

    Politics
    Sharad Pawar advises Uddhav Thackeray to appoint Eknath Shinde as Chief Minister
    The Maharashtra chief minister gave an emotional speech on Facebook, lamenting the fact that his "own people" were turning against him. He said he was willing to quit, but only if his fellow Shiv Sainiks confronted him and made the demand in person.

    Digital
    Desk: As per latest information, Uddhav Thackeray has left his official
    mansion, "Varsha," this morning after delivering an emotional
    statement via Facebook yesterday in which he said that he is prepared to step
    down as Chief Minister of Maharashtra. According to media sources, Thackeray
    was persuaded by NCP leader Sharad Pawar to appoint rebel minister Eknath
    Shinde as the next chief executive.

    This has just happened a short time after
    Pawar, Supriya Sule, and Jitendra Awhad visited the Maharashtra CM's home.
    According to the most recent information, Pawar has now departed the CM's home.

    Uddhav
    Thackeray earlier on Wednesday admitted defeat and declared himself "ready
    to quit" from his position. The Maharashtra chief minister gave an emotional
    speech on Facebook, lamenting the fact that his "own people" were
    turning against him. He said he was willing to quit, but only if his fellow
    Shiv Sainiks confronted him and made the demand in person.

    'My
    own people are now questioning; ready to quit'

    "We were in opposition to Congress and
    the NCP for 25 to 30 years." Sharad Pawar informed me that I had to
    accept the responsibility of the CM post when the three parties united in 2019.
    I even lacked any prior knowledge. But I accepted the accountability. Both
    Sonia Gandhi and Sharad Pawar gave me a lot of assistance and continued to
    believe in me. The fact that I became CM astonished me. But now, my own people
    are doubting me. If my own MLAs want me to resign, I'm willing to do so. Why
    are you all doing this if you all claim that you won't be undermining the Shiv
    Sena? Since I have COVID, I won't be visiting Raj Bhawan. The Maharashta CM
    added, "I am prepared to go and see the governor.

    With its support eroding below the threshold
    of a majority, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government is out of options.
    Following the MLC elections, a group of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena has
    emerged, led by dissident veteran politician and Minister Eknath Shinde.

    According to sources, the Shiv Sainik, a
    devoted supporter of late patriarch Balasaheb Thackeray, is dissatisfied with
    the alliance the party has formed with the ideologically opposed Nationalist
    Congress Party (NCP) and Congress. In order to "not compromise on
    Hindutva," the leader has urged the Shiv Sena to reconnect with its
    "natural ally," the BJP. 

    Eknath
    Shinde has arrived at the Raddison Blu hotel in Guwahati, Assam, after leading
    his flock to Surat. There are at least 38–40 MLAs with him.