Maharashtra Election Results: Eknath Shinde to resign as CM, oath-taking tomorrow, say reports

Maharashtra Election Result: Eknath Shinde is likely to resign as Maharashtra's chief minister tomorrow, November 26. However, the Shiv Sena (Shinde) chief will continue as the caretaker CM, according to reporters.

Shiv Sena insiders said that CM Eknath Shinde is expected to submit his resignation to the governor on Tuesday and remain as a caretaker CM until a new CM and cabinet is sworn in, according to a report in TOI.

The oath-ceremony is likely to be held tomorrow, said Deepak Kesarkar, a senior minister from the Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena.

Mahayuti alliance scripted a historic victory by winning 235 seats in the 288-member house. The BJP led the Mahayuti's victory by winning 132 seats – the highest among all allies. Shinde Sena won 57 seats and Ajit Pawar-led NCP won 41 seats among other Mahayuti alliance partners.

Two days after the November 23 results, the alliance partners are having a key meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah in the national capital on Monday for picking the next chief minister.

While Ajit Pawar's NCP is said to given support for Fadnavis, Sena MLA's are reportedly pitching for continuing Shinde as CM since the election was fought under his leadership.

In the 2019 assembly election, the BJP-Shiv Sena (undivided) won the majority. The alliance didn't last long as the Shiv Sena pulled out, unleashing political turmoil in the state. The state saw three different chief ministers in the last five years: BJP’sDevendra Fadnavis, Shiv Sena’s (UBT) Uddhav Thackeray, and Shiv Sena’s (SHS) Eknath Shinde.