Eknath Shinde resigns, Governor asks him to act as caretaker Chief Minister

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday morning met Governor C P Radhakrishnan here and tendered his resignation following the results of the assembly elections.

The governor asked Shinde to act as a caretaker chief minister till the new CM is sworn in, as suspense continues over who would be the ruling Mahayuti coalition's choice for the post following its landslide victory.

Shinde was accompanied by deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar as he visited the Raj Bhavan.

The term of the outgoing Maharashtra assembly ends on November 26.

Deepak Kesarkar, who served as a minister in the Eknath Shinde cabinet, told reporters, "The chief minister has tendered his resignation. The governor has asked him to act as a caretaker chief minister."

To a question, Kesarkar said the new government will be sworn in at the earliest.

Despite the Mahayuti alliance of the BJP, Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP securing a massive victory, winning 230 seats in the 288-member assembly, consensus has eluded the ruling combine's leaders so far on who should be the next CM.

When asked who will be the next CM, Kesarkar said, "Every political worker desires that the CM should from his or her party, but whatever decision Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah take will be acceptable to all of us."

"Shinde has told the senior leaders (apparent reference to Modi and Shah) that whatever decision they take is acceptable to him," the Shiv Sena leader added.

Havan in 100 temples for Shinde as CM

Rituals are being conducted in more than 100 temples for the continuation of Eknath Shinde as chief minister of Maharashtra in the Mahayuti 2.0 government which is yet to be formed. The conundrum over whether Shinde will continue at the helm or whether Devendra Fadnavis, who steered the BJP to stupendous victory, will replace him remains unsolved even three days after the Mahayuti romped home to retain power.

Havans (a fire ritual) and pujas are being conducted in over 100 temples across Maharashtra by priests, said Akshay Bhosale, the head of Shiv Sena's Dharmavir Adhyatmik Sena.

In acknowledgement of Shinde's work for the welfare of priests and seers, pujas are being offered at temples, Bhosale said on Tuesday. These saints played a crucial role in campaigning for the Mahayuti, comprising BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, especially in rural areas, he said. Notably, Shinde had visited the goddess Kamakhya temple in Assam on at least two occasions in the past.

The BJP won 132 seats in the recently-held assembly polls for the 288-member House, followed by Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP, which won 57 and 41 seats, respectively. With the term of the outgoing Maharashtra assembly ending on November 26, Shinde met Governor C P Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhavan and tendered his resignation.

The governor asked Shinde to act as a caretaker chief minister till the new CM is sworn in.

(Inputs by PTI)