BJP curveball: Eknath Shinde new Maharashtra CM, Fadnavis Deputy as Uddhav will get cornered additional

Express News Service

MUMBAI: With the BJP on Thursday pulling off a large shock by providing the chief minister’s publish to insurgent Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde and persuading a reluctant Devendra Fadnavis to be his deputy, it seems to have killed a number of birds in a single stone.

From his humble beginnings as an auto driver to that of the CM, the rise of the four-time MLA and twice minister has certainly been meteoric.

Also learn: Eknath Shinde: Former auto driver and Sena road fighter now in driving seat in Maharashtra

At the oath-taking ceremony, Shinde invoked Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray and Anand Dighe saying his authorities will comply with of their footsteps. Sources noticed within the day’s developments a masterstroke by Union house minister Amit Shah.

“By making Shinde the CM, the BJP has not just engineered a vertical split in elected representatives of the Shiv Sena, it also divided the party. More importantly, it has diminished the Thackeray brand and reduced him to a caricature. And Shinde will be controlled by the top leadership of the BJP for future manoeuvres,” stated a supply requesting anonymity.

Besides, Shah clipped the wings of Fadnavis, the supply stated.

“Fadnavis was CM from 2014 to 2019. He was also projected as a potential prime ministerial candidate after Narendra Modi. And he has tacit support from the RSS. He was not ready to work as Shinde’s No 2. But Shah persuaded Modi that the Shinde-Fadnavis team would be best in the larger interests of the BJP in Maratha-dominated Maharashtra. Modi then called Fadnavis and persuaded him to take the job.”

Shinde was light-weight minister within the Fadnavis cabinet earlier. The roles reversed on Thursday with Shinde turning into his boss.

Fadnavis hoped to be the brand new CM.

“But it appears that the party leadership decided to not only rub salt on his wounds but also humiliate him by asking him to be deputy CM,” sources stated.

Pawar quip on Fadnavis

NCP chief Sharad Pawar stated the physique language of Devendra Fadnavis confirmed he was not proud of being requested to be the deputy CM however accepted it in opposition to his will due to the self-discipline RSS inculcated in him.

He additionally stated drawing as many as 38 Shiv Sena rebels isn’t simple however Eknath Shinde pulled it off.

“I have spoken with him over the phone and congratulated him.”