It is PM’s call, says Shinde as suspense over CM lingers
The BJP on Wednesday scored big in the ongoing game of thrones over the election of the Maharashtra Chief Minister with top contender and caretaker CM Eknath Shinde of the Shiv Sena playing ball.
Ahead of a crucial meeting of BJP-led NDA leaders (Shinde, BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis and NCP’s Ajit Pawar) with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Capital on Thursday to discuss government formation, Shinde said he would “abide by the decision of the top BJP leadership on the CM issue”.
“I spoke to both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah and told them that there would be no speed breakers from our side. We will go by what they decide,” Shinde told the media at his residence in Thane.
He, however, said “detailed deliberations on the issue (CM/government formation) would be held with Shah tomorrow and a final call taken”.
While BJP sources continued to maintain that party leader Fadnavis was the frontrunner for the CM’s post, the caretaker CM, while thanking PM Modi for supporting his government for two and a half years, presented his own credentials for the top job.
“I was a common man for the people of Maharashtra, not the CM. I worked for the people,” said Shinde, hours after his party leaders publicly said the deal with the BJP was that Shinde would stay the CM in the event of the ruling alliance’s win.
The coalition won a four-fifths majority in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly under Shinde as the CM but the BJP came out on the top bagging 132 seats on its own. The House majority is 145 — a fact the BJP is citing to claim the CM’s post.
Asked if he was upset over anything, Shinde said, “No one is upset. We do not cry, we fight.”
The Shiv Sena chief went on to list the achievements of the Mahayuti government during his term as the CM saying, “Pro-people schemes like Ladki Behna and Ladki Bhai helped the Mahayuti win the elections.” “We tried to bring a positive change to the lives of common people. I am the son of a farmer and I know what poverty is. I had decided that when our government is formed, it will bring a change in the lives of common people,” he said.
Shinde, however, made it a point to mention that the Ladki Behna scheme benefited 2.5 crore women, who formed a major chunk of Maharashtra’s nearly nine crore voters and potentially swung the polls in the NDA coalition’s favour.
“The Opposition went to court against the scheme but we inspired confidence in it. That is why we got this huge mandate,” he said, putting the ball on the CM issue in the court of Modi and Shah, yet stopping short of surrendering his claim on the post. Sena leaders privately said Shinde’s remarks today were mainly meant to put his party leaders in line since they had been speaking publicly staking claim to the CM’s position. “But nothing should be deemed as final till it is final,” a Shiv Sena source said.
The BJP was, however, quick to welcome Shinde’s remarks. “I want to thank Shinde. He made his stand on the CM’s post clear today. He has taken an important stand. I am proud of him,” BJP state chief Chandrakant Bawankule said. The state Congress chief, however, took a swipe at the alliance.
“The BJP’s central leadership has pressured Shinde to give up his claim on the CM’s post. It is suspicious that so much time is being taken to form the next government despite the Mahayuti getting a huge mandate.
Won’t be a hurdle
I spoke to PM Modi and Amit Shah, and told them there would be no speed breakers to government formation from my side. — Eknath Shinde, caretaker CM
