“Health issues” or “big decision”? Shiv Sena leaders increase tension of ‘Maha’ as Shinde visits his village | India News

NEW DELHI: Is Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde upset with the turn of events after the verdict? Mahayuti BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP achieved a spectacular victory in the assembly elections under him?
On Friday, a day after Mahayuti leaders’ first government-forming meeting in Delhi with the BJP’s top leadership, Shinde left for his native village of Dare in Satara. His sudden trip led to an announced second meeting of allies in Mumbai today being put on hold, fueling speculation.
However, his party Shiv Sena dismissed these speculations. “He (Shinde) is not upset. Even in Delhi he had fever and a cold. It would be wrong to say he went to Dare because of his anger,” said Sena leader Uday Samant. “Anyone can have health problems and if they have gone to a good place (for health reasons), there is no point in concluding that they are upset,” Samant added.
Samant confirmed that Shinde will return to Mumbai on Saturday and that the cabinet formation will be completed soon.
But Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat added a twist to the story. “Whenever Eknath Shinde thinks he needs some time to think, he goes to his native village. When he (Eknath Shinde) has to take a big decision, he goes to his native village. Tomorrow evening he (Eknath Shinde) will take a very big decision,” Shirsat said.
Shiv Sena said Shinde is yet to decide whether he is ready for a role swap with Fadnavis in the next Maha government. “If Shinde does not accept the post of deputy CM, another leader of our party will get it. He (Shinde) will take a call on this,” another Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat said.
The party has also ruled out any compromise formula that envisaged Shinde’s role in the Union Cabinet. Shirsat said Shinde would certainly not go to the Center as a Union minister.
Earlier this week, Shinde had announced at a press conference that he would not be an obstacle in forming the new government and would “abide by the decision of Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah regarding the choice of CM”.
“You (PM Modi) are the head of our family. Just as the BJP people accept your decision, we will also accept your decision in the same way. I spoke to PM Modi and His Majesty Amit Shah on phone yesterday and told them this. “Thanks to me, there will be no problem in forming the government,” Shinde had said.
Following the results, the Shiv Sena had mounted a concerted campaign for continuity in Mahayuti’s leadership, citing Nitish Kumar’s Bihar model. Shiv Sena leaders demanded a second term for Shinde, crediting his governance to the coalition’s massive victory in the assembly elections.
But the BJP, which has 132 seats in the 288-member assembly, wants to lead the government this time, setting the stage for the return of Devendra Fadnavis as the next chief minister.
The people of Maharashtra, who gave the Mahayuti a spectacular victory in the assembly elections, will have to wait until next week for their government as the allies’ pre-poll bonhomie over power-sharing in the new government has been put to the test.
(With contributions from agencies)