Eknath Shinde likely to resign as Maharashtra CM today
Eknath Shinde likely to resign as Maharashtra CM today
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is expected to resign on Tuesday, November 26. However, he will continue as the caretaker CM until a new leader takes charge. Sources within the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) confirmed that Shinde will submit his resignation to the governor and oversee the transition until a new cabinet is sworn in.
Deepak Kesarkar, a senior Shiv Sena leader from Shinde’s faction, stated that the oath-taking ceremony for the new government is likely to take place on Tuesday.
The Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde), and Ajit Pawar-led NCP, registered a landslide victory in the recent Maharashtra assembly elections. The coalition secured 235 out of 288 seats, with the BJP leading the charge by winning 132 seats. Shinde Sena won 57 seats, while Ajit Pawar’s NCP secured 41.
A crucial meeting of alliance leaders was held in Delhi, with Home Minister Amit Shah playing a key role in deciding the next CM. Reports suggest the BJP is keen on Devendra Fadnavis, while Shiv Sena MLAs are lobbying to retain Shinde, under whose leadership the election was fought.
The 2019 assembly elections had also seen the BJP and the then undivided Shiv Sena win a majority. However, the alliance broke down, plunging the state into political instability.
Maharashtra has seen three chief ministers in the last five years: BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Uddhav Thackeray, and Shiv Sena (Shinde)’s Eknath Shinde.
The next few days will be critical in shaping Maharashtra’s political leadership.
