Devendra Fadnavis To Become CM, Eknath Shinde To Be Deputy CM: Sources

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• Jun 30, 2022 | Dhupali Das

Fadnavis and Shinde would lay their claims to power in front of Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at 3 pm, sources quoted... 

Digital Desk: Following a dramatic week that saw Uddhav Thackeray resign after Shiv Sena lost the majority of its MLAs in a conflict, Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP is expected to take over as Maharashtra's chief minister once again. Moreover, the revolt's leader, Eknath Shinde, will serve as the Deputy chief minister. 

Fadnavis and Shinde would lay their claims to power in front of Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at 3 pm, sources quoted. 

Fadnavis is expected to be sworn in tomorrow, more than two years after taking the oath in a dawn ceremony but being forced to resign four days later. According to sources, he will start with a small cabinet.

Uddhav Thackeray resigned as the chief minister of Maharashtra on Wednesday (June 29) immediately after the Supreme Court ruled that he should prove his majority.

After the uprising in three BJP-ruled states, the Shiv Sena leader was left with just 13 MLAs. First, Shinde and some rebels travelled in luxury buses to Surat. Further, they took chartered flights to reach Guwahati. They arrived in Goa yesterday evening to prepare for a potential strength test.

The spokesperson for the Sena rebels, Deepak Kesarkar, emphasized that their decision to resign from the Thackerays and join the BJP was motivated by ideology rather than aspirations of receiving significant cabinet positions.

He added that the rebels still loved and respected Thackeray and did not betray him. He declared, "Nobody in the Shiv Sena is against the Thackeray family."

"There is no basis for any portfolio speculating. On that, no decision has yet been made," While noting that talks to form a government with the BJP have already begun, Kesarkar stated.

Further, he claimed that since Uddhav Thackeray is no longer the majority figure in the party, so Shiv Sena is now the rebel faction. "It is not a matter of identifying the true Shiv Sena. We are the legislative party because we have the majority in court," added he.

Meanwhile, the BJP denied having any involvement in the Shiv Sena takeover despite proof that it protected and assisted the rebels. During the turmoil, Devendra Fadnavis met with the leaders twice. Eknath Shinde was flown from Guwahati to Vadodara for a third meeting with Fadnavis and Home Minister Amit Shah, the leader of the BJP party. 

While the other rebel MLAs stayed behind, Shinde checked out of his Goa hotel and reportedly traveled to Mumbai with Maharashtra BJP MLA Ravindra Chavan. 

According to sources, he would discuss portfolios for the new government with Fadnavis and other state-level BJP leaders before going to the Raj Bhawan to meet the Governor.

Large numbers of security personnel have been stationed at Sena founder Bal Thackeray's Smriti Sthal (monument), where Shinde is reportedly planning to seek blessings before forming a new government.

"There has been no discussion yet with the BJP about the details of ministerial posts, but it will happen soon. Until then, please don't believe the ministerial lists and rumours about it," in a tweet, Mr. Shinde stated.

As per BJP leader Girish Mahajan, they have the backing of more than 170 MLAs.

The Maharashtra BJP tweeted a video of Fadnavis speaking in Marathi. The caption that accompanied it said, in Marathi, "I'm going to return to build a brand-new Maharashtra! Jai  Maharashtra."

The Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance government was overthrown by Shinde and 50 of his supporters, 40 of them were Shiv Sena MLAs.

"I'm giving up my post as chief minister. I don't want to be involved in any Shiv Sainik deaths that may occur tomorrow," Thackeray stated Facebook live speech.