By Online Desk
MUMBAI: Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde will be the new chief minister of Maharashtra, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said on Thursday.
The dramatic announcement came after Fadnavis and Shinde met Governor B S Koshyari at Raj Bhavan.
It was considered a foregone conclusion that Fadnavis will become the CM for the third time, in alliance with the Shinde-led Sena rebels.
Fadnavis said Shinde will be sworn in as CM at Raj Bhavan at 7.30 pm on Thursday.
Addressing the media after meeting the Governor, the senior BJP leader said, “in 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, people voted for BJP-Shiv Sena alliance but that mandate was insulted and Maha Vikas Aghadi government was formed.”
“Eknath Shinde is group leader of Shiv Sena who wanted to end alliance with Congress and NCP but Uddhav Thackeray did not oblige,” he said further.
“In 2019 BJP and Shiv Sena had an alliance and we got required numbers in Assembly elections. We hoped to form the government but Shiv Sena chose to get into an alliance with those against whom Balasaheb protested throughout his life. Shiv Sena formed an alliance with those who are against Hindutva and Savarkar. Shiv Sena insulted the mandate of the people,” Fadnavis said further.
“Shiv Sena MLAs were demanding that the alliance with Congress and NCP should be ended but Uddhav Thackeray ignored these MLAs and gave priority to MVA alliance partners, that’s why these MLAs intensified their voices,” he added.
Shinde, who arrived in Mumbai from Goa on Thursday afternoon, met Fadnavis at the latter’s official residence in south Mumbai 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.
They also submitted the letters of the supporting MLAs to Governor B S Koshyari to stake claim for government formation, BJP leaders said.
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.
(With PTI and Agencies Inputs)
