Eknath Shinde will become Chief Minister again if Maha Yuti wins, say Shiv Sena (BT) leaders

Mumbai: Polling for the State Assembly elections happened on Wednesday (November 20). Findings of exit polls by various private agencies were announced too. Many exit polls predicted a Maha Yuti victory.

Maha Yuti leaders also claimed that they would form the government again. However, it is still not clear who would be the next Chief Minister. Maha Yuti leaders are naming some faces as their next Chief Minister. This raised a question if there was unanimity over the issue.

Later, they showed flexibility. Shiv Sena (BT) leaders claimed that Eknath Shinde would be made the Chief Minister, to which the BJP did not object.

Shiv Sena (BT) MLA and Spokesman Sanjay Shirsat said, “We are contesting these elections as the Maha Yuti under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. People of the State have preferred him again. Therefore, in our opinion Eknath Shinde has to become the CM again. We are certain that he would continue to be the Chief Minister after the poll results. We feel from the bottom of our hearts that Shinde should become the new CM and he will certainly become the CM.”

Flexibility of BJP leaders

Reacting to this, BJP leader and State Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha said, “Eknath Shinde is currently the Chief Minister. However, main leaders from the three alliance partners would discuss the issue after poll results and decide about the CM. We will be happy if Eknath Shinde is made the CM again. We will be equally happy if someone else is chosen as the CM. The three leaders of Maha Yuti will decide.”

Later, Shiv Sena (BT) leader and State Minister Shambhuraj Desai said, “Exit polls reflect the opinion expressed by the people, voters, women, farmers and youths. After our successful campaign, people’s response to our appeal and exit poll results, it has become clear that our tally would be much better than a simple majority. We will have a landslide victory. When it comes to leading the government, the three leaders of Maha Yuti will decide it. Our alliance partners have also clarified on this.

“Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, DyCM Devendra Fadnavis and DyCM Ajit Pawar will collectively decide about the Chief Ministership. If you ask my or my party’s opinion on this, I would say Eknath Shinde should continue to lead the government. There has been unanimity among us on the issue. I think if the Chief Ministership comes to the Shiv Sena (BT), Eknath Shinde being the party chief will also be the Chief Minister.”