Mumbai: Maharashtra’s political drama is unfolding differently at various stages. It became more interesting when BJP leader and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Thursday that Eknath Shinde would be the new chief minister. The announcement shocked many political pundits in the state, as most of them expected that Fadnavis would be the next chief minister.
Fadnavis made the announcement at a joint press meet after the duo met Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, ahead of the swearing-in slated for later in the evening.
The eight-day-old political drama in Maharashtra, which reached its climax on Wednesday evening when the Supreme Court directed Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to take a floor test on Thursday and Thackeray stepped down.
His resignation saw the end of the 31-month-old three-party Maha Vikas Aghadi government. Immediately after Thackeray stepped down, the Bharatiya Janata Party began to prepare for forming the new government with the help of the rebel Shiv Sena legislators.
Read also: SC refuses to intervene, asks Uddhav to face floor test today
Leader of opposition and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with senior BJP leaders, accorded a warm welcome to Eknath Shinde who arrived in Mumbai after a sojourn across Gujarat, Assam, and later Goa, to hammer out the nitty-gritties of staking claim with Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. According to available indications, Fadnavis and Shinde are likely to be directed on the formalities of the oath-taking ceremony after they meet the Governor in a short while.
Though there is no official word yet, Fadnavis is expected to be sworn-in as the new chief minister for the third time, and Shinde, with the support of around 50 MLAs, will be the new deputy chief minister by the Governor at Raj Bhavan. Earlier in the day, Shinde told the media persons in Goa that he was going to Mumbai to meet the Maharashtra Governor. “I am going to meet the Governor. Rest all MLAs are here in Goa. We will let you know our next decision and steps,” Shinde said.
He was escorted by a police force during his travel to the Dabolim airport. Tight security was seen at the airport also. Shinde and other MLAs had landed in Goa from Guwahati on Wednesday night.
