New Delhi: As Maharashtra eagerly awaits the announcement of its next chief minister following the recent state assembly elections, a sudden illness has sidelined caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde but created new suspense about what his next move would be.
Shinde, who has been at the centre of intense speculation regarding government formation, has been battling a fever, cold, and throat infection for the past two days, according to his family doctor, RM Patre.“He is doing fine now. These are the side effects of the fever, but he is under observation by a team of 3–4 doctors,” Patre stated.
The news of Shinde’s illness, which according to a few of his close associates, prompted him to retreat to his native village in Satara, has added another layer of intrigue to the already complex political maneuvering. The timing of his absence, coinciding with critical negotiations regarding cabinet portfolios and the chief minister’s position within the Mahayuti alliance (BJP, Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction), sparked rumours of political discord. However, these rumours were quickly dismissed by Shinde’s allies, who emphasised his illness as the sole reason for his absence. Outgoing minister Uday Samant explicitly stated that Shinde was not upset, but just unwell.
Shinde’s earlier statement that he would abide by the decision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP leadership regarding the chief minister’s position appeared to clear the path for Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis to assume the top post. This announcement was further reinforced by NCP leader Ajit Pawar’s statement confirming that the BJP would indeed hold the chief minister’s position, with Shinde and Pawar’s factions securing deputy chief minister roles.
Despite the apparent clarity, suspense persists. BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced that the Mahayuti government’s swearing-in ceremony would be held on December 5th at 5 PM in Mumbai, with Prime Minister Modi in attendance. However, the exact identity of the chief minister remains unannounced, leaving room for last-minute shifts in power dynamics, which has very little chance of surprising everyone.
Adding to the suspense, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat suggested that Shinde may make a significant decision by Sunday, hinting at potential political ramifications. “In my opinion, whenever Eknath Shinde feels the need for time to reflect, he goes to his native village. By tomorrow evening, he will make a major decision. It could be a political decision… Everything will be clear by Monday evening,” Shirsat told news agency ANI.
The BJP’s landslide victory in the assembly elections, securing 132 seats, while its allies the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction secured 57 and 41 seats respectively, established the BJP’s dominance in the coalition government.
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