‘I am not a hurdle’: Eknath Shinde clears way for BJP CM in Maharashtra, says will support top brass’s decision

Shinde said that Devendra Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar and he would attend a meeting with Shah in Delhi on Thursday where a discussion would be held on this issue.

“I am an open-minded person. For me, ladla (dear) brother post is bigger than any other position. I am not someone who is withholding the process of government formation. I called PM (Modi) yesterday and reassured him that I am not a hurdle to government formation. I told him that whatever your decision as the supreme leader of NDA and Mahayuti would be acceptable to us. I told him that he should not think Eknath Shinde is a hurdle. We wholeheartedly support the decision that will be taken by the PM,” Shinde said.

Indicating that he was willing to step down as chief minister, Shinde said his party would also support the BJP’s decision on the post. “The Shiv Sena will support the BJP and PM Modi’s decision. I spoke to Union minister Amit Shah as well as PM Modi about it and conveyed the decision of supporting their decision on the CM post,” Shinde reiterated.

Shinde thanked the people of the state for Mahayuti’s “landslide” victory in the Assembly polls and said that he never considered himself as chief minister but believed that he worked like a common man. Shinde said that he could launch and implement welfare schemes in the past two and a half years because he came from a poor family of farmers and was aware of the issues faced by the farmers, women, and the marginalised poor.

“I never considered myself as CM but as a common man. Since I came from a poor family, I took all decisions for the welfare of farmers, women, poor people etc. I am satisfied with my tenure of 2.5 years. PM Modi and Amit Shah ji stood behind me like a rock during my tenure. We were able to do rapid fast-track development in the past 2.5 years because the state and Centre had the same government,” he said.

Shinde added that he was not someone who worked for a position or someone who would sulk or be unhappy about not being in any position. “We are the ones who are known to fight and dedicate (ourselves) to the service of people till my last drop of blood. People saw in me a CM from their own family. I earned the tag of ‘Janata’s CM’ and common man,” he said.