Amid the ongoing stalemate over the Maharashtra Chief Minister over a week after declaration of election results on November 23, caretaker CM and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde on Sunday said that the people of the state identify with him due to his "common man" origins.
The remark came a day ahead of the meeting of the BJP legislature party where the new MLAs will elect their new leader. The development also came three days after Shinde's meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the national capital.
"I was the people’s Chief Minister. …Actually, I used to say that I was not just the Chief Minister but the Common Man. As a common man, I understood problems and pain suffered by the people and tried to address them. Since I worked as a common man, obviously people feel that I should become the Chief Minister," he told The Indian Express.
Last week, Shinde clarified that he would not act as a roadblock towards the formation of the Mahayuti government and that any decision by NDA leaders -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah -- would be acceptable and his party.
While the remarks were seen as a signal of Shinde paving way for Devendra Fadnavis as CM, the continuing impasse indicated that the deadlock was far from over.
Shinde, however, reiterated his stand and said any decision by the NDA's top leadership but also made a strong claim to the post by reminding the people that the elections were fought and won under his leadership.
The kind of success that the Mahayuti Government has secured has never been achieved by anyone in the past….The Assembly elections were fought under my leadership. Both the Deputy Chief Ministers and other colleagues were with me. We secured a big victory," he said, adding that there should be "no ifs and buts" about the support from the Shiv Sena and him to any decision taken by Modi-Shah.
Shinde left for Thane late on Sunday from his native village of Dare in Satara district, where he spent the last two days after meeting Shah on Thursday. After reaching Satara, he had complained of fever and throat pain and was put on saline on Saturday.
Shinde also addressed the buzz surrounding his son and Shi Sena leader Shrikant Shinde as the Deputy CM and said discussions between the three Mahayuti partners is still underway.
"Discussions are still underway. The media keeps discussing it (Shrikant Shinde's role in new government)… We have already discussed the issues with Amit Shah. Now, the three allies will hold a meeting where we will discuss various issues… During our meeting, we will take an appropriate decision. We will take a decision in the interest of Maharashtra," he said.
Shinde further said that there was no lack of coordination between the Mahayuti partners and that a strong government of the alliance will come to power in the state soon.
In the Assembly elections held recently, the Mahayuti emerged victorious in 230 of the 288 seats in the state.
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