Shinde looking at PM for face-saver

CRYPTIC FAREWELL TO POST-Eknath Shinde displays an air of reluctant acceptance but indicates, 'Abhi toh sara aasmaan baaqi hai'

- Ravikaran Deshmukh & Ramu Bhagwat

In a move that could change the power dynamics, caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde held a press conference at his Thane residence on Wednesday, where he displayed an air of reluctant acceptance, which is being interpreted as him having bowed out of the race for the CM's post; this, in turn, was seen as setting the stage for a dramatic return of Devendra Fadnavis.

Acknowledging the compulsions of coalition politics and the ground reality, Shinde revealed that he had spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who advised him on the way forward. Political observers said this was not just a retreat; it was a tactical exit, with Shinde's eyes glued to the horizon.

Shinde gave a glimpse of his vision when he made a self-prophecy, "Jeevan mein asli udaan abhi baaqi hai, hamare eeradon ka imtihaan abhi baaqi hai, abhi toh naapi hai sirf mutthi bhar jameen, abhi toh sara aasmaan baaqi hai." ("The real flight in life is yet to come, the test of our ambitions is still in abeyance, so far we have only measured a handful of land, the entire sky is still left to be charted").

The philosophical lament was a signal that his political journey wasn't ending but simply pivoting. It underscored Shinde's latent political ambitions and hinted that there was more to come-something perhaps more daring and far-reaching than a brief stint as the CM of Maharashtra.