Maharashtra New CM LIVE: Eknath Shinde Resigns, To Act As Caretaker Chief Minister

Shiv Sena spokesperson Naresh Mhaske on Monday cited the Bihar model to assert that Eknath Shinde should continue as the chief minister of Maharashtra, where the ruling Mahayuti has scored a landslide victory in the assembly polls.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Shiv Sena spokesperson Mhaske said Shinde should continue as the CM.

"We feel Shinde should be the chief minister, just like in Bihar where BJP did not look at the numbers but still made JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar the CM. Senior leaders of the Mahayuti (in Maharashtra) will ultimately take a decision," the Lok Sabha member said.

However, BJP MLC Pravin Darekar batted for Devendra Fadnavis for the CM's post, saying the deputy chief minister is the most capable candidate to lead the state.

"People have given mandate to Devendra Fadnavis. The people of Maharashtra stood behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said.

"In my opinion, Fadnavis should become the chief minister. Maharashtra needs an astute and academic leader. He kept the alliance united, gave our allies candidates, and even stepped back when required. He has always maintained coordination," Darekar said.

Rituals are being conducted in more than 100 temples for the continuation of Eknath Shinde as chief minister of Maharashtra in the Mahayuti 2.0 government which is yet to be formed.

The conundrum over whether Shinde will continue at the helm or whether Devendra Fadnavis, who steered the BJP to stupendous victory, will replace him remains unsolved even three days after the Mahayuti romped home to retain power.

Havans (a fire ritual) and pujas are being conducted in over 100 temples across Maharashtra by priests, said Akshay Bhosale, the head of Shiv Sena's Dharmavir Adhyatmik Sena.

In acknowledgement of Shinde's work for the welfare of priests and seers, pujas are being offered at temples, Bhosale said on Tuesday.

These saints played a crucial role in campaigning for the Mahayuti, comprising BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, especially in rural areas, he said.

Amid suspense over the Mahayuti's choice for the next chief minister of Maharashtra, a leader of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has claimed that the Maratha community wants him to continue in the top post.

It was also desirable that Shinde should continue as chief minister in view of the coming elections to the local bodies in the state, Shiv Sena spokesperson Sheetal Mhatre told reporters on Tuesday.

"Shinde successfully provided ten per cent reservation to the Maratha community (under the economically and socially backward category) and helped the community through the Annasaheb Patil and Sarathi corporations," she said, claiming that the community, hence, stood behind the Mahayuti in the elections.

"The demand that the chief minister should be from the Maratha community is gaining strength," she added.

For the first time in six decades, there will be no leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra assembly due to the inadequate number of MLAs in the opposition camp.

As per norms, a single party, and not a coalition, should have at least 10 per cent of the total strength of the assembly to stake claim to the House opposition leader’s post.

In the state assembly poll results, the parties under Maha Vikas Aghadi, Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) won 21 seats, Congress 16 and Sharad Pawar's NCP could grab only 10.

Nationalist Congress Party Maharashtra chief Sunil Tatkare has confirmed to the media that the party chief Ajit Pawar has decided not to stake claim to the Maharashtra chief minister’s post.

Tatkare spoke to The Indian Express and said, “No, Ajit Pawar is not in the race for the chief ministerial post."

This comes amid the high drama that ensued in the state since the assembly results were declared the the Mahyuti alliance had a landslide victory.

The Mahayuti coalition, comprising the Shiv Sena, BJP and Ajit Pawar-led NCP, retained power by winning 230 of the 288 assembly seats in the just-concluded state polls, leaving the Aghadi with just 46 seats.

The top runners for Maharashtra's new chief minister race is former CM Eknath Shinde and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis.

The Chief Minister race in Maharahstra has clouded the Mahayuti's massive win in the assembly elections as the Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party supporters are divided over choosing Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis as the next CM.

Shinde’s supporters are batting for his second term as CM claiming the landslide win was achieved under his leadership. Meanwhile, the leaders of the BJP are arguing that the party's highest-ever tally in the state assembly elections should make way for Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis to take oath as the CM this time.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday morning met Governor C P Radhakrishnan here and tendered his resignation following the results of the assembly elections.

The governor asked Shinde to act as a caretaker chief minister till the new CM is sworn in, as suspense continues over who would be the ruling Mahayuti coalition's choice for the post following its landslide victory.

Shinde was accompanied by deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar as he visited the Raj Bhavan.