Eknath Shinde agrees to Maharashtra Deputy CM post amid political tussle

After days of speculation and backroom discussions, caretaker Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has agreed to take oath as the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra. The announcement was made by party leader Uday Samant on Thursday, ending uncertainty over Shinde’s role in the new government.

Shinde’s hesitation to accept the post stemmed from an unresolved tussle over key cabinet portfolios. Sources revealed that Shinde had demanded the home ministry portfolio as a condition for joining the cabinet. The BJP, however, declined to fulfill this demand, leading to a stalemate over the past three days.

Despite the impasse, Shinde’s Shiv Sena MLAs urged him to join the government, reportedly stating that they would forgo ministerial berths if Shinde stayed out of the cabinet. The plea from his party colleagues, along with interventions by senior BJP leader Girish Mahajan, paved the way for Shinde’s acceptance of the post.

Shinde’s decision follows two crucial meetings with Devendra Fadnavis, who is set to be sworn in as the chief minister. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Shinde had expressed uncertainty about his participation in the government. However, Thursday morning saw a shift, with Samant confirming Shinde’s participation.

While Shinde’s swearing-in as deputy CM is scheduled for 5:30 pm at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, questions remain over the final distribution of portfolios among the coalition partners. A senior Shiv Sena leader stated that the power-sharing agreement would be finalized in the coming days.

This marks a new chapter in Maharashtra’s political landscape, with Fadnavis leading the coalition as chief minister and Shinde serving as one of two deputy chief ministers alongside Ajit Pawar. The ceremony is expected to formalize the alliance and set the stage for governance in the state.