India
BJP ally Ramadas Athawale backs Devendra Fadnavis for Maharashtra CM post | India News – Times of India
However, Republican Party of India (Athawale) leader said he would accept the decision of the BJP high command on the issue.
“The RPI (A), an ally of the BJP, believes that Devendra Fadnavis should be given a chance to become Chief Minister again. However, if the high command decides to appoint Eknath Shinde as CM, we will support it,” Athawale told reporters. .
A day earlier, Athawale had suggested that Shinde could become deputy chief minister or switch to the Center and join the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.
He also said that despite being the chief minister between 2014 and 2019, Fadnavis had taken up the post of deputy CM in the Mahayuti government under Eknath Shinde.
Earlier in the day, interim Prime Minister Shinde made it clear that he had assured Prime Minister Modi to adhere to whatever decision the BJP takes in the CM’s face “without being an obstacle”.
Even Fadnavis, when asked about the new Maharashtra CM face, said the answer would be given soon and a decision would be taken.
Fadnavis, the Maharastra face of the BJP, is expected to meet the summit in a bid to resolve the impasse under Mahayuti over the CM post in New Delhi.
The BJP-led Mahayuti won a landslide victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, winning 230 seats in the 288-member House. The BJP won 132 seats, followed by the Shinde-led Shiv Sena (57) and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP (41). Smaller parties, which are part of the alliance, won five seats.
