Clearing the way for formation of new government in Maharastra, the state's caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde faction on Wednesday announced his support BJP's pick for the next CM.
Speaking at a press conference, Shinde said he will "fully support" the BJP leadership's decision to name the next CM and he would not be a hurdle in the process.
“I called PM Modi yesterday and also Amit Shah and told them to decide (on who will be the CM post), and assured them that I will abide by whatever decision they take,” Shinde was quoted by PTI saying.
Rubbishing reports that he was disappointed for not getting a second term, he insisted "nobody is annoyed. We have worked as Mahayuti''.
“Our Shiv Sena will fully support the BJP라이브 바카라 decision to name the next Maharashtra CM. There is no speed breaker from our side,” Shinde said.
“I am a worker forever; for me, CM is not Chief Minister but Common Man,” he told the media.
Asked if he was dismayed that he was not getting a second term, Shinde said, “There is no such thing. You must remember that BJP supported my tenure as CM.”
Shinde also refrained from commenting on the deputy chief minister positions in the new cabinet, he said, “There is a meeting in Delhi tomorrow with Amit bhai (Shah) and all related decisions will be taken there.”
He added that the modalities of forming the next government will be finalised in the meeting at Delhi on Thursday.
Shinde also expressed gratitude to people of Maharastra for the alliances resounding victory in the state. Commenting on his extensive campaign efforts during the recent assembly elections. “I used to sleep for 2-3 hours before starting the campaign the next day,” he added.
Shinde thanked PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for supporting him during his two-and-a-half-year tenure as chief minister. “We worked to take Maharashtra to Number 1 spot from Number 3 in six months of my becoming CM,” he said.
Hitting the opposition Shinde said he will not be disappointed if asked to step down from his position. “I am not disappointed. We fight and don’t cry,” Shinde said.
Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP also performed well. Sena won 57 while NCP won 41 seats.
Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a setback. The grand old party registered one of its worst performances in the state assembly polls after it won only 16 seats.
Sharad Pawar's NCP(SP) won just 10 seats, whereas Uddhav Thackeray's (UBT) won 20 seats.
The Maharashtra assembly elections were held on November 20, and the results were declared on November 23.
On Tuesday, Eknath Shinde tendered his resignation as CM to Governor C P Radhakrishnan. The Governor requested Shinde to continue as caretaker chief minister until the new government is formed.
