'Health issues' or 'big decision'? Shiv Sena leaders add to 'Maha' suspense as Shinde visits his village

NEW DELHI: Is Eknath Shinde, the caretaker chief minister of Maharashtra, upset over the turn of events after the ruling Mahayuti of BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP scripted a spectacular victory under him in the assembly elections?

Mahayuti leaders' first meeting over government formation in Delhi on Friday was followed by a trip the next day of Shiv Sena chief Shinde to his native village Dare in Satara. This left put on hold an announced second meeting of the allies for today in Mumbai that only triggered speculations.

But the Shiv Sena dismissed such speculations. "He is not upset. Even in Delhi, he was suffering from fever and cold. It would be wrong to say that he has gone to Dare because he is upset," Samant said. "Anyone can get health issues, and if he has gone to a good place for health, there is no point in saying he is upset," added Samant.
But Sanjay Shirsat, the leader of the Shiv Sena, gave a new turn to this story. "Whenever Eknath Shinde feels that he has to think, he goes to his native village. When he (Eknath Shinde) is going to take a bigger decision then also he proceeds to his native village. He (Eknath Shinde) is going to take a very big decision by tomorrow evening," he said.
Shiv Sena has said that Shinde is yet to decide whether he is ready for role reversal with Fadnavis in the next Maha government. "If Shinde does not accept the deputy CM's post, then some other leader from our party will get it. He (Shinde) will take a call on this," said another Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat.
The party has also ruled out any compromise formula involving any role for Shinde in the Union Cabinet. Shirsat said Shinde will certainly not go to the Centre as a Union minister.

He was stating in the middle of the week that he was not to be a hindrance to a new government formed, nor was he going to be a hurdle on the way as he was going to "respect the decision of Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah regarding the CM choice."

"You are the head of our family. The way people of BJP accept your decision, we will also accept your decision in the same way. I made a phone call to PM Modi and HM Amit Shah yesterday and told them that there will be no problem in forming the government because of me," Shinde had said.

After the results, the Shiv Sena had carried out a concerted campaign for continuity in Mahayuti's leadership citing the Bihar model of Nitish Kumar. Shiv Sena leaders demanded a second term for Shinde crediting his governance for the coalition's massive win in the assembly elections.

But the BJP, at 132 seats in a 288-member assembly, wants to lead the government this time, setting the stage for the return of Devendra Fadnavis as next chief minister.