Shinde as CM again: Shiv Sena goes full throttle

Just when it seemed that the Mahayuti was in cruise mode, there has arisen a sudden, vociferous demand by the Shiv Sena to project Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as the CM face in the upcoming state assembly election.

- Ravikiran Deshmukh

On Wednesday, when Mahayuti leaders, including CM Shinde, Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar were addressing the media, a question was asked about its CM face. At that time, Fadnavis had said, "Our CM is here," pointing at Shinde. This was taken as an endorsement by the state BJP for Shinde to be the CM once again.

This was followed by Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MP from Kalyan and the son of CM Shinde, Shrikant Shinde convening a meeting with the party office-bearers on Friday at Shivaji Mandir, Dadar. Here, it was made loud and clear that the party wanted CM Shinde to be projected as the CM face. A short film, 'Punha Eknath Shindech Mukhya Mantri (Eknath Shinde as CM once again)' was also released prior to the meeting.