Mumbai, Jun 30 (UNI) In an unexpected move, Shiv Sena rebel leader Eknath Shinde will become the 20th Chief Minister of Maharashtra, former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Thursday.
Addressing a joint press conference here, he said Shinde will take oath this evening at 1930 hrs.
Fadnavis said, "We all know that in the 2019 Assembly elections, there was an alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena. Through this alliance, the Bharatiya Janata Party won 105 seats at that time. Shiv Sena won 56 seats. A total of 161 such seats and some independents, including about 170 MLAs, were elected.
"It was expected that a Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena government would be formed. At that time, the Prime Minister had also announced that a BJP leader will become the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, in presence of all. But unfortunately, after the results, our then friend and ally Shiv Sena, particularly the Shiv Sena chief, took a different decision.
"He formed an alliance with the Congress and NCP, who always opposed the idea of ​​Hindutva and the independence of Savarkar. This was an insult to the mandate. People did not vote for Mahavikas Aghadi. BJP would have voted for Shiv Sena alliance. But that mandate was completely insulted and the Mahavikas Aghadi came into existence. Late Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray would have strongly opposed this," he added.
Interestingly, Fadnavis will not be part of the new Cabinet in Maharashtra.
Shinde expressed his gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda for giving him this opportunity.
He said, "I will provide a strong government and will take decisions, keeping in mind the welfare of the state."
Shinde added that the dream of former Shiv Sena chief, late Balasaheb Thackeray, came true today with a Shiv Sainik becoming the Chief Minister of the state.
The former Shiv Sena leader, who was instrumental in the fall of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in the state, was provided with 'Z' security, due to a wave of anger among the Uddhav Thackeray loyalists over his rebellion.
Shinde had held a meeting with his supporting MLAs, stationed in Goa, before coming to Mumbai.
He also held meetings with dozens of top BJP leaders in Mumbai, including Fadnavis, Chandrakant Patil and several others, and discussed plans about forming the new government.
Sources in BJP said the swearing-in ceremony will be held at Raj Bhavan late this evening, in which Patil and Shinde will take oath.
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