Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde refutes Uddhav Thackeray's claim of BJP going back on CM post promise in 2019

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has said Union minister Amit Shah told him that if they had given a word to Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray of making a party leader as the CM in 2019 why would they go back on itSpeaking late Saturday night after a function in Thane district Shinde also said he will soon visit Ayodhya in Uttar PradeshHe also said the state cabinet would soon be expanded furtherShinde said the first expansion of the cabinet done on Tuesday 41 days after he took oath was the CM was delayed due to various factors including some equations and calculations and the situation in which his government was formed in June this yearIn making me the chief minister senior BJP leaders have shown they have a big heart The BJP is not always after power he saidShinde said he had met Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi in the presence of Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra FadnavisAlso Read Maharashtra NCPs Ajit Pawar slams induction of tainted ministers in Eknath Shinde govtDuring the discussion Shah told me that we made Nitish Kumar the chief minister of Bihar when his party JDU had less numbers than the BJP In Maharashtra if we have given a word to you Sena why would we go back on it Shinde saidAfter the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections when the BJP won 105 seats and the Sena bagged 56 seats Thackeray had claimed the BJP did not keep its promise of rotating the chief ministerial post with the SenaThe Shiv Sena later tiedup with the NCP and Congress to form government in the stateShinde said people of Maharashtra had given a clear mandate to the then BJPSena alliance but things were not good later onI had explained to Uddhav Thackeray about the problems many times but in vain I had also told him that in such a situation we cannot face voters in future he saidShinde further said he had not revolted against the Sena leadership in June to become the CMHe said he still feels like a Sena activist and wants the state to progress and peoples problems to be addressedThe Thackerayled government had collapsed in June after Shinde and 39 other legislators revolted Shinde was on June 30 sworn in as the CM and BJPs Fadnavis as his deputyShinde did not reply when asked why he was not made the CM or his name did not feature in the list of probables in 2019He also refused to comment on if Thackeray made a mistake by becoming the CMShinde said the peoples love and affection was the reply to criticism he faced after revolting against the Sena leadershipWe had the teachings of Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray and Shindes mentor Anand Dighe to fight against injustice he saidAsked why he was tensed before being sworn in as the chief minister Shinde said when people were concerned about him one can imagine what would have been his situationMoreover I had the responsibility of 50 MLAs who supported him after the rebellion he saidShinde also said following the rebellion he spent three sleepless nights and travelled from Mumbai to Thane Surat and GuwahatiOn he being friendly with former CM Fadnavis Shinde said he loves those who workI admire his Fadnaviss way of working understanding things decisionmaking study of a subject and actions the CM saidShinde said he used to be afraid when he was incharge of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation under the previous Fadnavis government and many people had pointed out about the Rs 6500 crore debt of the MSRDCShinde said he was then ready to resign but Fadnavis asked him to continue and brought the Samruddi Mahamarg project connecting Nagpur to Mumbai under the MSRDCHe also said all anticipations were proved wrong when this time he became the CM with Fadnavis as his deputyWhen Fadnavis announced my name for the CMs post it was shocking for all but we both were aware of it Fadnavis was very happy with the arrangement he saidI have no ego I dont want credit for any work I want to deliver results and would always love to take guidance from Fadnavis and his experience as the CM Shinde saidOn Sharad Pawars claim that the Maharashtra government will collapse and the state will go for midterm polls Shinde said each party has its own strategy and does not want its MLAs to cross over hence such comments were being madeMany leaders are in touch with me and Fadnavis but we do not want anyone as we have sufficient MLAs In fact 170 legislators are with us in the 288member Assembly he saidShinde also said during a visit to New Delhi recently he met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath He was also informed about the progress of Ram temple construction in AyodhyaShinde said he has to take along with him those who missed the opportunity to visit Ayodhya in the recent period for some or the other reasonIt was Bal Thackerays dream that the Ram temple be built in Ayodhya and the same was being fulfilled now he saidSome detractors had remarked that the Ram temple construction was only a dream and not a reality but it was being proved wrong now The temple work is progressing fast and it is a good sign Shinde saidAsked about some alleged comments of AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Hindu deities during his visit to Maharashtra Shinde said such things will not be toleratedWe respect all castes creeds and religions he saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever