More Sena netas want Eknath Shinde as CM; BJP minister says Devendra Fadnavis not Delhi-bound

Mumbai: The ‘Eknath Shinde for CM’ clamour is growing in Shiv Sena. After MLA Abdul Sattar’s demand that Shinde, the party chief, be made the CM for 2.5 years, minister Pratap Sarnaik said people want him to helm the state govt and MLC Bacchu Kadu suggested that CM Devendra Fadnavis “should be promoted” with a posting in the Centre.

Sarnaik, however, acknowledged that it would not be right to demand the post of CM on the strength of 60 MLAs in a House of 288. “As workers, we want deputy CM Eknath Shinde to become the CM again. However, in the end, numbers matter... Efforts will be made to increase Shiv Sena’s strength in Lok Sabha and the assembly in 2029,” he said.

Kadu said were Fadnavis to get a central ministerial berth, it would pave the way for Shinde’s appointment as CM. He said party functionaries toured Vidarbha over the last 20 days and understood the pulse of the people. “I am sure that Vidarbha will make Eknath Shinde CM.”

Sena minister Uday Samant said Kadu’s demand was made in his personal capacity. “However, this demand is natural. I, too, want Shinde to become the CM, just as BJP wants Devendra Fadnavis in the CM’s post.”

BJP minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said talks of Fadnavis heading for Delhi should not be entertained. “His goal is to create a developed Maharashtra and he is determined to make it a leading state.” He said discussions should be held with the relevant party leadership before public comments on sensitive subjects like the CM’s post are made.

Last week, after a three-hour meeting with Shinde, Sattar had sought the CM’s chair for Shinde and had said BJP was meting out injustice to Sena. “If it (rotational CM post) can happen in Bihar, why not Maharashtra? BJP made Sena no. 2 party in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar,” he had said. He had said Sena MLAs were restless and both Shinde and Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray should take a decision on a potential merger.

Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad, too, backed Sattar’s injustice claim, saying BJP was interfering in his constituency and senior BJP ministers were not letting him raise questions in the assembly on issues of public interest.