Shinde cancels meetings abruptly, visits Shirdi temple with wife

As per the release from his office, Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde was scheduled to hold three meetings in Mantralaya between 1pm and 3pm on Wednesday

As per the release from his office, Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde was scheduled to hold three meetings in Mantralaya between 1pm and 3pm on Wednesday. However, eyebrows were raised in political corridors when he abruptly cancelled all his meetings and left for Shirdi to visit Saibaba temple with two other ministers.

Thane, India - October 24, 2019: Shivsena Candidate Eknath Shinde Won from Kopari-Panchpakhadi 147 constituency Thane, India, on Thursday, October 24, 2019.( Praful Gangurde/HT Photo) (HT PHOTO)

Shinde visited the temple to seek blessings of Saibaba with his wife, school education minister Deepak Kesarkar and revenue minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil. After the visit Shinde said he had gone there to pray. “I prayed for the prosperity of the people of Maharashtra and welfare of the farmers,” he said.

The CM also said that the 40 MLAs from his camp will visit Kamakhya temple in Guwahati this weekend as a thanksgiving tour following the successful formation of the government in Maharashtra.

Speaking on the Guwahati visit Shinde said, “The MLAs had vowed to the deity after the successful formation of the government. All 50 MLAs will visit the temple this weekend. The MLAs will visit the temple on Saturday morning and return to Maharashtra the next day,” said a leader from the BSS.