Eknath Shinde is not a hurdle in forming government: Eknath Shinde
Mumbai: Caretaker CM Eknath Shinde addressed the media for the first time after the State Assembly elections on Wednesday (November 27) in Thane. He said, “I thank all voters through the media. It is an unprecedented victory for us, which is a result of the Maha Yuti’s performance in the past 2.5 years. We took forward projects stalled during the MVA rule and implemented new ones. We launched new welfare schemes.
“All Maha Yuti workers worked very hard. I am thankful to them too. I addressed almost 90 rallies during the polls. I travelled across the State as a common worker. The acronym ‘CM’ stands for ‘Common Man’ for me. I had no difficulty interacting with the people. We have always been thinking of doing something for the people. I hail from a farmer’s family. I went through their pains, compromises and a hard life. I wanted to do something for all constituents of society.
‘I never worked to gain popularity’
Shinde said, “I did not work to become popular or to measure my work. We tried to give to the people what a government can do. We were backed by the Centre. I want to say it again. We got lakhs of crores of funds from the Centre. Therefore, I just want to say that there is no hurdle in the way of a new government. I am telling this frankly. I have not stretched the matter at all.
“I called up PM Modi and told him to never think that I could be adamant. The way your word is final for the BJP, so it is for us. I told Modi and Amit Shah that Eknath Shinde would not be a hurdle. You make your decision.”
“People showered us with votes for our performance’
Eknath Shinde said, “We received votes due to our work and the decisions we made. My identity of being a ‘dear brother of dear sisters’ has been established in Maharashtra. My sisters knew who the stepbrother was. I am satisfied. My ‘dear brother’ identity is bigger than any post for me. I am not at all unhappy.
“I am a fighter and not a grumbler. We went to the people and did not sit at home. What we did was from our heart. I will work for the people till the last drop of blood.”
‘We followed the path shown by Balasaheb Thackeray’
Shinde said, “We followed Balasaheb Thackeray’s path, Anand Dighe’s thoughts. Narendra Modi and Amit Shah told us that they would stand behind us firmly. They made me the Chief Minister. I used every moment, every day of my office for the State. I thank Modi and Shah.
“Development was sped up in the past 2.5 years. We made record decisions in the government. We solved issues of journalists, dear sisters, farmers. We launched 124 irrigation projects. The State is now on a growth trajectory.”
Maha Yuti will form the government’
He said, “It is certain that the Maha Yuti will form the government. We got 239 seats. The BJP became the biggest party in Maha Yuti.”
Shiv Sena (BT) leaders Dada Bhuse, Sanjay Shirsat and others were present. Eknath Shinde resigned as the CM on November 26. The 14th State Assembly has been dissolved and Shinde is the Caretaker CM.
