“Already given my unconditional support”: Eknath Shinde Reaffirms Support for BJP

Caretaker Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde has reaffirmed his full, unconditional support for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in selecting the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Shinde emphasized that the people have delivered a historic mandate in favor of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance.

Speaking to reporters in his native village in Satara district, where he took a break following a hectic election schedule, Shinde confirmed his recovery from a recent illness and stated, “I am feeling better now. I came here to rest after the busy election schedule. I didn’t take any leave during my 2.5 years as Chief Minister. People are still visiting me here. This government will listen to the people. I have already given my unconditional support to the party leadership, and I will stand by their decision.”

Shinde highlighted the unity among the Mahayuti leaders

Shinde also highlighted the unity among the Mahayuti leaders, asserting that the government’s work over the past 2.5 years would be remembered in history. “This is why the people gave us a historic mandate and denied the opposition even the chance to elect a Leader of the Opposition. All three allies of the Mahayuti have a good understanding. The Chief Minister candidate will be decided tomorrow,” he added.

In a related development, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief Ajit Pawar clarified that the Chief Minister would be from the BJP, with the other two coalition partners, Shiv Sena and NCP, holding Deputy Chief Ministerial positions. “During the meeting in Delhi, it was decided that the Mahayuti would form the government with the Chief Minister from BJP, while the remaining two parties would have Deputy Chief Ministers,” Pawar stated.

Shinde, along with Devendra Fadnavis—widely considered the frontrunner for Chief Minister—Ajit Pawar, and other Mahayuti leaders, met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President JP Nadda in Delhi on Thursday evening to discuss the deadlock over the Chief Ministerial position.

The Maharashtra Assembly election results, declared on November 23, revealed a landslide victory for the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, although the alliance has yet to finalize its Chief Ministerial candidate. The BJP emerged as the largest party with 132 seats in the 280-member Maharashtra Assembly, while its allies, the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde and the NCP led by Ajit Pawar, secured 57 and 41 seats, respectively.