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Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde resigned as Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Tuesday amid suspense over Mahayuti’s choice of the next contender for the top job. Shinde tendered his resignation to Governor CP Radhakrishnan at the Raj Bhavan in Mumbai. His deputies, Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis, were also present.
However, Shinde will continue to serve as the caretaker Chief Minister until a new government is formed. The BJP-led Mahayuti coalition won a landslide victory in the elections, bagging 235 seats in the 288-member Assembly. However, the coalition has failed to arrive at a consensus so far on who should be the next chief minister.
The Shiv Sena has maintained that Shinde should continue to lead the state, highlighting that the Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, which proved to be the game-changer in the elections, was his brainchild.
On the other hand, leaders of the BJP, which recorded its highest ever tally in the state, have been pitching for Devendra Fadnavis to take oath as the chief minister for a third time. NCP’s Ajit Pawar has backed BJP’s claim.
The BJP secured 132 seats, its best performance in Maharashtra, while allies Shiv Sena and NCP won 57 and 41 seats respectively.
Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske has urged the BJP leadership to replicate the Bihar pattern in Maharashtra for appointing Shinde as the chief minister. “Nitish Kumar was made the Chief Minister of Bihar even though his party didn’t have the majority,” Mhaske said.
In a post on X on Tuesday night, Shinde asked his supporters not to throng his official residence to pitch for his continuation as the chief minister. “Out of love for me, some people have appealed to everyone to gather together and come to Mumbai. I am deeply grateful for your love. But I appeal that no one should come together in my support in such a manner,” Shinde said.