Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, their first meeting after assuming office in the State.
“Today, together with my colleague DyCM @Dev_Fadnavis met Prime Minister of India Hon.Shri @narendramodi जी to seek his Blessings for Maharashtra’s Progress and Thanked him for his Untiring Support,” Mr. Shinde tweeted with the hashtag #hindutvawarriors.
Mr. Shinde and Mr. Fadnavis, who arrived in the capital on Friday night, also called on President Ram Nath Kovind, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP chief J.P. Nadda on Saturday.
Earlier, Mr. Shinde and Mr. Fadnavis had a lengthy discussion with Union Home Minister Amit Shah during which the formula for Cabinet expansion and power-sharing arrangement between Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction and the BJP were learnt to have been finalised. The announcement, however, will be made in Mumbai next week.
Addressing a press conference alongside Mr. Fadnavis, Mr. Shinde expressed confidence that his government would not only last its term but also form the next the government in alliance with the BJP.
He told reporters that he would try and understand the Prime Minister’s vision for the development of the State and strive to take Maharashtra to newer heights. Projects like the Samruddhi Expressway connecting Mumbai and Nagpur, metro rail in cities and digging farm ponds to boost irrigation, that were initiated by the Fadnavis government but had run into delays under the Uddhav Thackeray-led government, will be put on fast-track, Mr. Shinde added.
“Maharashtra has a strong government. We have 164 MLAs while the opposition has 99. My government will complete its tenure. We will even win the next election,” he said.
He said though the BJP had 115 MLAs and they faction had only 50 MLAs, by making him the Chief Minister, the BJP had silenced its critics that the party always ‘manipulates’ to stay in power.
When Mr. Fadnavis was asked about the BJP cadre being unhappy over his “demotion” to the post of deputy chief minister, he said that on the contrary, the party workers were happy that natural allies BJP and Shiv Sena have formed government, unseating the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance and the “injustice” done to them in 2019 has been rectified.
“It is very clear. The Chief Minister is the leader. We will work towards making this government successful,” Mr. Fadnavis said, adding, “Who made me a big leader? The party. I am happy to work as per the requirements and the direction of the party”.
