Maharashtra: Even as the clock ticks down to Devendra Fadnavis’ swearing-in ceremony as Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, the suspense continues to build over whether key Mahayuti leader and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde will accept the Deputy CM post.

Over the last two days, media reports suggested that Shinde, the outgoing Chief Minister, has agreed to take the Deputy CM’s post following a meeting with Devendra Fadnavis at ‘Varsha’, the official residence of the caretaker CM in Mumbai.

However, with Shinde yet to reveal his final decision, Shiv Sena leaders have decided they won’t take any responsibility in the new government unless Shinde accepts the Deputy CM post.

“If Eknath Shinde doesn’t accept the Deputy CM post, no Shiv Sena MLA will accept any responsibility in the new govt,” said party leader Uday Samant.

Another Shiv Sena leader, Sanjay Shirsat, said that they believe that Eknath Shinde will listen to their request, and he will take oath as Deputy CM.

“He is our leader, and we want him to take the oath as Deputy CM…we are all going to (meet) Eknath Shinde. We will convince and get him ready for the oath-taking.”

Whereas, party leader Deepak Kesarkar said that party MLAs also requested him to be a part of the Maharashtra cabinet to take the post of Deputy CM during their meeting on Wednesday evening.

“He said that he would consider it positively and he (Eknath Shinde) always listens to PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. If a message comes from there, it will be very good and he will always consider their decision. Even Devendra Fadnavis accepted the post of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister after the central leadership of BJP insisted (in 2022). Our parties are different but principles and ideologies are the same,” said Kesarkar.

The Sena leader added that cabinet expansion should take place before the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

Devendra Fadnavis is all set to assume the role of Chief Minister after taking oath today evening. 

Ajit Pawar has also confirmed that he will take oath as Deputy Chief Minister in the new government.

The oath-taking ceremony will take place at Azad Maidan in Mumbai at 5.30 pm in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other ministers.

Devendra Fadnavis is all set to succeed Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and take oath as the new CM of the state on Thursday. At the BJP’s press conference in Mumbai, when Eknath Shinde was asked if he would take oath as the Deputy CM, NCP chief Ajit Pawar’s response left everyone in splits.

The video of the NCP chief’s funny response has now gone viral on social media, garnering over two lakh views. The moment unfolded at the BJP press conference in Mumbai on Wednesday, where the three leaders had gathered after staking their claim to form the Maharashtra government.

‘Inka toh shaam tak…’

When a media person asked Eknath Shinde if he and Ajit Pawar would be sworn in as deputy chief ministers at Azad Maidan, Shinde replied, “Let’s wait till evening. The oath ceremony is tomorrow.”

Adding to Shinde’s reply, Ajit Pawar quickly said, “Inka to shaam tak pata chalega. Main to shapat le raha hoon. (He (Shinde) will figure it out by evening. I’m the one taking the oath.)” The NCP chief’s funny remark made both the party leaders and reporters laugh.

At this point, Eknath Shinde took the mirth one notch higher. He said, “Dada (Ajit Pawar) ko anubhav hai subah ko bhi lene ka aur shaam ko bhi. (Ajit Pawar has the experience of taking the oath in the morning as well as in the evening),” which left all the attendees of the event roaring in laughter.

Story behind Ajit Pawar’s ‘shaam tak…’

Ajit Pawar mentioned in Marathi that when he and Devendra Fadnavis last took the oath in the morning, they were unable to sustain the government for long. However, this time, he assured that they would complete the full five-year term.

Both the caretaker CM Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar were referring to the 2019 event when Pawar — still part of the united NCP led by his uncle Sharad Pawar — took the oath as Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister alongside Devendra Fadnavis in a pre-dawn ceremony at Raj Bhavan.

The 2019 government lasted only 80 hours, as Ajit Pawar failed to secure enough support from NCP MLAs to align with the BJP. This resulted in a coalition of the Shiv Sena, NCP, and Congress, with Uddhav Thackeray becoming the chief minister and Ajit Pawar once again serving as the deputy chief minister.