Picture : Twitter/ ANI
Springing a last minute surprise that stumped political pundits rebel Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde took at the new Chief Minister Of Maharashtra.
BJP leader and former Chief Minister from 2014 to 2019 Devendra Fadnavis while aanouncing the name of Eknath Shinde declared he would not join government. But is classic U-turn was persuaded by Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda to become Deputy Chief Minister.
Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari administered the oath of office to them at Raj Bhavan in south Mumbai shortly after 7.30 pm.
Shinde began by paying tributes to late Shiv Sena leaders Bal Thackeray and Anand Dighe. His supporters shouted slogans hailing Thackeray and Dighe as he finished taking the oath.
Reacting to the dramatic political developments, NCP Chief Sharad Pawar was quoted by ANI saying, I congratulate Eknath Shinde on his new responsibility. He showed the power of taking such a large number of MLAs to Guwahati. He inspired people to quit Shiv Sena. I don’t know if it happened earlier. But it didn’t happen without preparation,
Pawar also commented on Fadnavis, when he remarked, I don’t think that the one who led MLAs to Assam had expected more than the post of Dy CM. But in BJP, as per order-be it from Delhi or Nagpur -CM post has been given to Eknath Shinde…The person who was CM & LoP has been asked to take oath as Dy CM. It’s shocking.
Pawar further told ANI, I don’t think Devendra Fadnavis has accepted the number 2 position of Deputy CM happily. It can be seen on his face. But he had lived in Nagpur, it is his ethos as an (RSS) swayamsevak, so he accepted the position.
