Mumbai: State BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule profusely thanked caretaker CM Eknath Shinde after he said he had left the decision on who would be CM to PM Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah. He further said they are proud of Shinde, who accepted all decisions of the BJP central leadership.
Addressing a press conference in Nagpur, Bawankule said the stand taken by Shinde as head of Mahayuti is a big decision, and as BJP state president, he welcomed it.
“The opposition since yesterday (Tuesday) was saying he (Shinde) is upset and tried to create ambiguity around him. However, Shinde has now clarified that whatever decision is taken by PM Modi and Amit Shah is acceptable to him and the Shiv Sena. The opposition’s rumours have remained rumours,” he said.
Heaping praise on Shinde, Bawankule said, “He is right when he says he does not cry but fights. His statement today (Wednesday) has strengthened the Mahayuti. We are proud of him. Just as Devendra Fadnavis obeyed every decision taken by the party, in the same manner, Eknath Shinde too accepted all decisions of the central leadership,” he said.
Bawankule praised Shinde for his commitment to Maharashtra’s development, pointing out that he played a key role in the completion of the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway. “He made a lot of efforts for the development of the state. He would have felt a lot of pain when in 2019, Uddhav Thackeray severed ties with the BJP,” Bawankule said.
On BJP’s insistence on the CM’s post, Bawankule said, “Our fight was not for the CM’s post but for the 14 crore people of Maharashtra. People accepted our manifesto and gave us the mandate to govern once again,” he said.
Devendra Fadnavis, speaking to reporters, on Wednesday said the opposition should stop criticising EVMs. “Only yesterday (Tuesday) the SC clearly said if you lose then EVM is bad, but if you win then it is good. EVM is tamper-proof and will be continued in upcoming elections. The opposition must stop this criticism,” he said.