Maharashtra: Eknath Shinde’s health improves; set to head to Mumbai amid ongoing CM face uncertainty

As the suspense over new CM looms, Maharashtra’s caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who fell ill in his native village in Satara district, is recovering and is expected to return to Mumbai on Sunday evening, according to an associate.

Shinde, who developed a high fever on Saturday, was examined by a team of doctors. The Shiv Sena leader had gone to his village, Dare, on Friday amid rumors about his dissatisfaction with the formation of the new state government.

Family doctor R.M. Parte confirmed that Shinde was suffering from a fever and throat infection. “He has been given medicines and put on IV (intra-venous therapy for medication). He will feel better in two days. He is leaving for Mumbai on Sunday,” Dr Parte said, PTI reported.

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An aide to Shinde added that the caretaker CM had been unwell for some time and developed a fever on Saturday, but he is now recovering and will return to Mumbai later in the evening.

The swearing-in ceremony for the new Mahayuti government in Maharashtra will take place on December 5 at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai, state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule confirmed on Saturday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the event.

While the identity of the new chief minister has yet to be announced, BJP sources have indicated that Devendra Fadnavis, who has served as CM twice and was deputy CM in the previous Shinde-led government, is the leading contender for the role.

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The Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), secured a decisive victory in the November 23 assembly elections. The BJP won 132 seats, followed by Shiv Sena with 57 and NCP with 41, surpassing the 145-seat majority in the 288-member House. However, the formation of the new government has been delayed due to disagreements within the alliance over the selection of the chief minister.

(With PTI Inputs)