Ajit Pawar Will Take Over as Maharashtra’s Chief Minister After Eknath Shinde Steps Down, Says Aditya Thackeray

Ajit Pawar was to succeed Eknath Shinde as the chief minister of Maharashtra, according to Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, who made the assertion on Saturday.

Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP now share the position of deputy chief minister of Maharashtra in the Shinde administration.

Aaditya Thackeray is quoted as saying, “I have heard that Chief Minister (Eknath Shinde) has been asked to resign and there might be some change (in the government).”

His remarks come at a time when rumors are rampant that the BJP is marginalizing the Shinde group since dissident leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Ajit Pawar and his supporters joined the cabinet.

Prior to this, a top Shiv Sena (UBT) leader alleged that since NCP leader Ajit Pawar entered the state government, some 20 MLAs from Shinde’s faction had been in contact with his organization.

“Since Ajit Pawar and other NCP leaders joined the government, 17-18 MLAs from the Shinde camp have contacted us,” Sanjay Raut had previously said.

Shinde, however, has refuted the rumors, stating that he has no intentions to resign and that there is no Shiv Sena uprising against the NCP rebels.

“We are takers, not resignation-givers. He leads by being patient and guiding everyone along. All of the MLAs and MPs expressed their trust in Eknath Shinde yesterday. “All of these (reports of discontent) are attempts to discredit Eknath Shinde,” Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant had stated.

He stated that Ajit Pawar’s action has absolved them of slurs such as “gaddar” (traitor) and “khoke” (crore), insults that had dogged the rebel camp since they switched sides.

According to Samant, “Now it is obvious that Ajit Pawar joining us means that the previous coalition (Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress) was not working well.”