Maharashtra CM News Highlights: NDA never had difference of opinions, says Fadnavis

BJP MP Anil Bonde praised Eknath Shinde for his good work in Maharashtra in the last 2.5 years.

“Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde has assured that he will abide by the decision taken by PM Modi, Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda (over next CM). Eknath Shinde did a good job in Maharashtra in the last 2.5 years. There was complete coordination between him, and the deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, and this helped Mahayuti to return to power in Maharashtra,” Bonde told news agency PTI.

Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske told news agency that PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda are Mahayuti's leaders and also their leaders, adding that whatever decision they make on the CM post will be accepted by everyone.

“They have stood by us and we will do the same to whom they decide to be the CM. PM Modi and HM Amit Shah have given their valuable time during Maharashtra elections - the victory that we have - their party and the hard work is one of the reasons behind that,” Mhaske added.

Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole has accused the BJP's top brass of pressuring Eknath Shinde to give up his claim on the post of the state's chief minister.

Read full story here

Shiv Sena leader Deepak Kesarkar said that Eknath Shinde has not said anything about not accepting any post. He told news agency ANI, "It's the outside people that are saying all these things. It's their (BJP) decision. Let them decide. Everything else is a premature thing to say,"

BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis told reporters that there was never any difference of opinions in the Mahayuti alliance.

"We have always made decisions by sitting together and we have said before elections that we will take the decision (regarding CM's post) collectively after the elections," he said.

The former Maharashtra Deputy CM further said that Eknath Shinde clarified the doubts that a few people had over the decision making in the NDA. "Soon we will meet our leaders and will take the decision," he added.

NCP chief Ajit Pawar told reporters that he, along with Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis, will be in Delhi tomorrow, November 28. "All discussions will take place here...Discussions on the formation of the Government with a CM and two Deputy CMs will be held. Final decision will be made after the discussion tomorrow," he said

Shinde camp MP Dhairyasheel Sambhajirao Mane, who met Home Minister Amit Shah at the Parliament on Wednesday, told news agency ANI, "All the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena MPs met Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the first time after the Maharashtra Assembly elections...The public has given a huge mandate to us in the elections...There is no dispute (over the post of Maharashtra CM). All three parties of the Mahayuti will work together for the development of the state."

Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske, who met Home Minister Amit Shah at the Parliament on Wednesday, said that he just greeted him, adding that there was no discussion over the CM post.

"Maharashtra, caretaker CM and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde has already stated in the press conference that whatever decision will be taken by PM Modi (over the post of Maharashtra CM) will be acceptable to us," Mhaske told news agency ANI.

Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole has claimed that there is a big reason behind the delay in announcement of Mahayuti's CM face.

"Maharashtra's caretaker CM and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde can't comprehend what BJP leadership is...There is a big reason behind the delay in announcing the CM face," he told news agency ANI.

Maharashtra BJP president Chandrshekhar Bawankule thanked Eknath Shinde for his stance on the CM post.

"He has always respected and obeyed our central leadership. He followed every instruction by the central leadership of the BJP. He has acted as a true Mahayuti leader. We thank and congratulate him for it," he said during a press conference in Nagpur.

Eknath Shinde said that BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, NCP leader Ajit Pawar and himself will meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi tomorrow, November 28, to discuss details of the government formation process in Maharashtra.

Amid the suspense over who will be the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shiv Sena MPs from Eknath Shinde's camp met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament on Wednesday.

Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske reportedly left the ongoing Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) meeting on the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 in the middle to go and meet Shah.

Shiv Sena will support BJP leadership's decision on CM post, says Eknath Shinde, Caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on the suspense over the CM of Maharashtra.

Eknath Shinde said he has left the decision of the next chief minister of Maharashtra to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “I told PM Modi, as the leader of NDA, you take the decision. And whatever decision you take will be final for us,” Shinde said.

“I told PM Modi, Amit Shah, that they should not look at me as an obstacle. I will stand by any decision that is taken by them,” Shinde said.

“I didn't do anything for popularity,” caretaker CM Eknath Shinde said amid suspense over the next chief minister of Maharashtra, adding that the the work he did has propelled him on the list of most popular leaders.

Addressing the presser over CM suspense, Eknath Shinde said, “The huge amount of votes we received was only because of the work we did. We are really the real brothers of our 'Ladki Behens', and they kept this in mind before voting.”

Shinde said he is very satisfied with all the work that has been done in the last 2.5 years. “I am not the kind who gets upset, we are the kind of people who fight, fight for the people,” Shinde added.

“All the work I do, I will do for the people of Maharashtra. What is important is not what I get, but what the people of the state get,” Shinde said.

Addressing the presser, Eknath Shinde said, “People used to ask me why are you giving away so much money. But we as a government have some responsibility and have to take people forward… These 2.5 years, we tried to take forward the ideals of Bal Thackeray and Prime Minister Narendra Modi".

Eknath Shinde said he is very happy that people of Maharashtra were happy getting the schemes Mahayuti alliance brought to them.

Because I came from a poor family, I could understand the pain and hardships of the people of the state, Shinde said.

He said, “I assured my party workers I will be with you at all times”.

"The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) had stalled developmental works which were taken up by the Mahayuti alliance. We brought welfare schemes for Maharashtra. Entire Mahayuti worked very hard," says Eknath Shinde, adding that he has addressed dozens of rallies and walked miles during the campaign.

“I used to work till late in the night, and then start very early morning. I conducted several 'sabhas' with the public. Since being elected as CM, I have been working as a common man. I never considered myself a CM, I could go within the public and could go within the common man without following protocols,” Eknath Shinde said.

"CM means common man," Shinde said.

"We are meeting first time after the results of the elections, I thank all voters and the public who have voted for us… I am really grateful to them. It is a landslide victory, something we have not seen in 20 years," Eknath Shinde says.

Caretaker CM Eknath Shinde is addressing media amid suspense over the next chief minister of Maharashtra. More updates to follow.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Wednesday asked what is stopping the NDA from announcing Devendra Fadnavis as next CM if the decision has been taken.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Priyanka Chaturvedi said, "If Devendra Fadnavis' name has been finalised, then announce it quickly; what is stopping you? Why are you depriving the people of Maharashtra of the promises made to them, why are you keeping them away and why are you ignoring the steering crisis of Maharashtra? They are so power hungry... its been days since the election came and yet the results have not been announced."

With the impasse over next Maharashtra chief minister not coming to an end, the leaders of the Mahayuti alliance have been summoned to Delhi for a meeting with the BJP leadership, according to an indiatoday.in report.

Eknath Shinde had said that everyone would accept any decision of Mahayuti alliance's senior leaders, sayd Shiv Sena spokesperson Raju Waghmare on being asked about reports of rift amid suspense over next chief minister of Maharashtra.

"Mahayuti will make a decision, there is no doubt about it. Even the CM [Eknath Shinde] had said that everyone would accept any decision of Mahayuti's senior leaders. There are no differences among us," said Raju Waghmare.

Caretaker CM and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde will be addressing a press briefing shortly amid endless speculation over the next chief minister of Maharashtra.