Mumbai, December 1: Eknath Shinde, the Shiv Sena chief and caretaker Chief Minister of Maharashtra, reaffirmed his full and unconditional support for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the formation of the next government in the state.
Speaking to reporters in Satara on December 1, Shinde emphasized that the people of Maharashtra had delivered a "historic mandate" in favor of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance. He reiterated that he would stand by the leadership's decision regarding the Chief Ministerial candidate.
Shinde, who had taken a short break in his native village following a demanding election schedule, also mentioned that he had fully recovered from a recent illness.
Reflecting on the alliance's success, he highlighted the unity within the Mahayuti coalition, stating that the government’s work over the past 2.5 years would be remembered, contributing to their overwhelming mandate.
While the BJP's Chief Ministerial candidate has yet to be officially announced, Shinde confirmed that the decision would be made soon. The alliance, which includes the Shiv Sena, NCP, and BJP, has secured a majority in the Maharashtra Assembly, with the BJP winning the most seats (132 out of 280), followed by Shiv Sena (57 seats) and NCP (41 seats).
In related developments, NCP leader Ajit Pawar confirmed that the Chief Minister would come from the BJP, while the other two coalition parties would hold Deputy Chief Minister positions.
