Breaking his silence four days after the assembly election results, Maharashtra Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde on Wednesday said he has assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he will abide by whatever decision the Bharatiya Janata Party takes on naming his successor.
Shinde's announcement followed vociferous demands by his Shiv Sena party leaders that he continue as CM as the ruling Mahayuti alliance scored a landslide victory under his leadership.
Political observers said that with Shinde falling in line, the stage is set for a new government, likely headed by BJP's Devendra Fadnavis, to be sworn in.
Addressing a packed press conference at his home in Thane, Shinde (60) said he will 'fully support' BJP leadership's decision to name the next CM, and won't be a hurdle in the process.
"I called PM Modi and Amit Shah yesterday and told them to decide (on who will be the CM post), and assured them that I will abide by whatever decision they take," Shinde said.
"Our Shiv Sena will fully support the BJP's decision to name the next Maharashtra CM. There is no speed breaker from our side," Shinde said, showing no trace on his face of having to swallow the bitter pill.
Deputy CM Ajit Pawar told reporters that the new CM is likely to be sworn in either on November 30 or December 1. There will be two deputy chief ministers in the new government, he added.
Shinde rubbished reports that he was disappointed for not getting a second term as CM despite the ruling Mahayuti alliance winning a thumping victory under his leadership.
"Nobody is annoyed. We have worked as Mahayuti," he said.
Asked if he was dismayed that he was not getting a second term, Shinde said, "There is no such thing. You must remember that BJP supported my tenure as CM."
"There is a meeting in Delhi tomorrow (Thursday) with Amit bhai (Shah) and all related decisions will be taken there," Shinde said, adding the modalities of forming the new government will be finalised in meeting at Delhi.
"I thank the people and voters of Maharashtra once again for this landslide victory in the recent assembly elections," he said.
"I am a worker forever; for me, CM is not chief minister but common man," he said.
Shinde thanked PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for supporting him during his two-and-a-half year tenure as chief minister.
"I am not disappointed. We fight and don't cry," Shinde said, referring to media reports that he was unhappy over being asked to step down despite leading the Mahayuti to a massive poll victory.
"I worked as the CM not to become popular but for the welfare of the people of Maharashtra," Shinde said.
Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule thanked Shinde for stating that he will abide by the decision of the top BJP leadership on the next chief minister of the state.
Speaking to reporters in Nagpur soon after Shinde, at present a caretaker chief minister, made clear his stand, Bawankule slammed the opposition for trying to spread rumours and cast aspersions on Shinde's character.
"I want to thank Shinde. Today, he made clear his stand on the chief minister's post. He has taken an important stand. I am proud of him," the BJP leader said.
Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole claimed that the BJP's central leadership pressured Shinde to give up his claim on the chief minister's post.
Patole said it was suspicious that so much time was being taken to form the next government despite the Mahayuti alliance getting a brute majority.
"The BJP's central leadership pressured Shinde to give up his claim on the CM post," he said.
Senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat said Shinde must be confused and bewildered because of the mandate which was not expected.
Union minister and Republican Party of India-Athawle leader Ramdas Athawale voiced support for Devendra Fadnavis as the next chief minister, but stressed that he would abide by the BJP "high command's" decision on the matter.
NCP leader Sunil Tatkare said the Mahayuti coalition, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party, had not decided any formula for the CM's post.
There was no confirmation from Mahayuti leaders on reports that Shinde's MP son Shrikant Shinde, could be the deputy chief minister. There is a possibility that Eknath Shinde will agree to be the Deputy CM, sources said.
There is also speculation that Shinde wants to be the convener of the Mahayuti government, as the elections were conducted under his leadership.
The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance scripted a powerful comeback in state assembly elections by winning 230 seats in the 288-member House.
Recovering from its Lok Sabha elections losses, the BJP bagged 132 constituencies, highest among all constituents of the Mahayuti. Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP also performed well. Sena won 57 while NCP won 41 seats.
Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi suffered a setback. The grand old party registered one of its worst performances in the state assembly polls after it won only 16 seats. Sharad Pawar's NCP-SP won just 10 seats, whereas Uddhav Thackeray's (UBT) won 20 seats.
The Maharashtra assembly elections were held on November 20, and the results were declared on November 23.
On Tuesday, Eknath Shinde tendered his resignation as CM to Governor C P Radhakrishnan.
The Governor requested Shinde to continue as caretaker chief minister until the new government is formed.
