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BIG STORY JULY 08, 2022 | The Indian Eye 4

NEW MAHARASHRA GOVT.

IS IT REALLY A

MASTER STROKE?

After days of drama, Eknath Shinde, the Shiv Sena’s rebel leader, is sworn in as the new Chief Minister.

BJP takes the post of his deputy. What is the ruling party’s long-term game in this move?

OUR BUREAU Later, Shinde and Fadnavis held
the first cabinet meeting of the new
Mumbai/New Delhi/Panjim (Goa)
government in Mumbai on Thursday
knath Shinde took oath as evening.
Chief Minister on Thursday A day after the resignation of
Eafter leading the revolt in Shiv Thackeray from the chief ministerial
Sena that brought down the Ud- post, Shinde and BJP leader Deven-
dhav Thackeray-led MVA coalition dra Fadnavis met Governor Bhagat
government. Shinde has repeatedly Singh Koshyari and staked claim to
avowed his commitment to Hindut- form the government in the state
va and his faction had been given the which was in the grip of political cha-
name of ‘Shiv Sena Balasaheb’ during os for more than a week.
the Maharashtra political crisis. Fadnavis, who was Chief Minis-
Following the revolt, Shiv Sena ter of Maharashtra from 2014-19, an-
led by Uddhav Thackeray had re- nounced at a joint press conference in
moved Shinde as its Legislative party Mumbai on Thursday that he will not
leader and replaced him with Sewri be part of the government. However,
MLA Ajay Chaudhary. The Eknath later on the directions of the BJP’s
Shinde camp, which had stayed most- central leadership, Fadnavis took
ly in Guwahati during the revolt, said oath as the Deputy CM.
that Congress and Nationalist Con- BJP and Shiv Sena had fought
gress Party (NCP) are Shiv Sena’s tra- the 2019 assembly polls together but
ditional rivals. They had earlier urged differences cropped up over the post
Uddhav Thackeray to stitch a “natu- of Chief Minister.
ral alliance” with the BJP. “In 2019, BJP and Shiv Sena had
BJP and Shiv Sena had fought an alliance and we got the required
the 2019 assembly polls together but numbers in Assembly elections. We
differences cropped up over the post hoped to form the government but
of Chief Minister. Shiv Sena chose to get into an alli-
Uddhav Thackeray resigned Eknath Shinde takes oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra during the swearing-in ance with those against whom Bala-
on Wednesday after the Shinde-led ceremony, in Mumbai on Thursday. (ANI Photo) saheb protested throughout his life.
group kept adding to its numbers and Shiv Sena insulted the mandate of the
Supreme Court gave a go-ahead for a him an inspiration for every BJP Congratulating Eknath Shinde people,” Fadnavis said.
floor test in the assembly. worker. This came after Fadnavis, on taking oath as Maharashtra CM, “Shiv Sena MLAs were demand-
A day later, Shinde and BJP lead- who earlier announced not to be part PM Modi said he is a grassroots lev- ing that the alliance with Congress
er Devendra Fadnavis met Governor of the new Maharashtra government, el leader and brings with him rich and NCP should be ended but Ud-
Bhagat Singh Koshiyari to stake a was sworn in as the deputy CM later political, legislative and adminis- dhav Thackeray ignored these MLAs
claim to form the government in the following the BJP’s directions. “Con- trative experience. “I would like to and gave priority to MVA alliance
state. After the meeting, Fadnavis an- gratulations to Shri Devendra Fadna- congratulate Shri Eknath Shinde Ji partners, that’s why these MLAs in-
nounced that Shinde will take oath as vis Ji on taking oath as Maharashtra on taking oath as Maharashtra CM. tensified their voices,” he added.
the chief minister. Deputy CM. He is an inspiration A grassroots level leader, he brings Eknath Shinde has risen from the
Immediately, Prime Minister Na- for every BJP Karyakarta. His expe- with him rich political, legislative and grassroots.
rendra Modi on Thursday congratu- rience and expertise will be an asset administrative experience. I am confi- The journey to the top post has
lated BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis for the Government. I am certain he dent that he will work towards taking not been easy for the 58-year-old
on taking oath as the deputy chief will further strengthen Maharashtra’s Maharashtra to greater heights,” the leader, who was born on February 9,
minister of Maharashtra and called growth trajectory,” PM Modi tweeted. Prime Minister said in a tweet. Continued at next page... >>

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