A much-awaited decision came when Eknath Shinde was finally sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra last evening, ending nearly two weeks of political suspense gripping the state. Acceptance of the deputy role came from Shiv Sena leader after very serious negotiations about whether he will relinquish his ambition to becomeChief Minister.
A Departure from the Script
The ceremony, which had begun with Devendra Fadnavis taking the oath as Chief Minister, turned brief when Shinde went off script just before taking his oath. Shinde thanked key political figures including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and late Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray besides his political mentor Anand Dighe. He ended up saying something more, which left Governor CP Radhakrishnan momentarily speechless.
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#WATCH | Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde takes oath as Deputy CM of Maharashtra @mieknathshinde #MaharashtraCM #DeputyCM pic.twitter.com/VGi1X7zesh
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Shinde’s brief speech lasted about 40 seconds before he was guided to complete the official oath-taking process. Once the process was over, Shinde’s office announced his decision to pay tributes at Balasaheb Thackeray‘s memorials in Colaba and Anand Dighe‘s memorial in Thane, to the very influential leaders he had dealt with in his political journey.
Ambiguity About Shinde’s Decision:
Prior to the oath-taking ceremony, Shinde’s presence was ambiguous. Party sources claimed that he had softened his stance, post his defeat in the battle for Chief Minister’s post. It was widely viewed as an attempt by Shinde to grab the critical cabinet berths within the government, in light of the ongoing power tussle.
Cabinet Berths: Expectations
The coalition talks between Shinde’s faction and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have led to the handing over of important cabinet positions. The BJP, which won about 20 cabinet berths, is going to share 12 with the Shinde faction. Though details are yet to be confirmed, sources claim that Shinde Sena is seeking high-profile portfolios, such as the Home Ministry presently held by Fadnavis, and key postings like Water Resources and Public Works.
The Shinde-Fadnavis Partnership
The turbulence up to this point will actually help the political scenario settle in Maharashtra with the new government. Shinde and Fadnavis, heavyweights in the state‘s political scene, will play a huge role in the governance structure of Maharashtra going forward. The entire state will eagerly wait to see which big-ticket ministries will be dealt out to which ministry holders as well as the difference Shinde will make from being a Deputy Chief Minister.
