Who Is Shrikant Shinde? Eknath Shinde’s Bid To Appoint Son As Deputy CM In Maharashtra Cabinet

Amid ongoing speculation about who will become the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra, sources revealed on Wednesday that Shiv Sena chief and caretaker CM Eknath Shinde is pushing for his son, Shrikant Shinde, to be appointed as the Deputy CM in a Devendra Fadnavis-led Cabinet.

According to latest media reports, Eknath Shinde has expressed that if this demand is met, he is willing to stay out of the government himself.

So, who is Shrikant Eknath Shinde?

Shrikant Eknath Shinde (born 4 February 1987) is an politician and member of the 17th Lok Sabha, representing the Kalyan constituency of Maharashtra. A member of the Shiv Sena party, he is the son of Eknath Shinde, the current Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Before entering politics, Shrikant Shinde pursued a career in medicine. He holds a degree in MBBS, followed by an M.S. in Orthopedics, which he completed at Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College, Navi Mumbai. At the time of his election in 2014, he was in his final year of Master's studies in orthopedics.

Shrikant Shinde first won the Kalyan Lok Sabha seat in the 2014 general elections, becoming the youngest-ever Maratha Member of Parliament. He successfully retained the seat in the 2019 elections. Shinde's personal life includes his wife Vrushali, son Rudransh, and his mother Lata.

Opposition within Shiv Sena

Meanwhile, Eknath Shinde's proposal has sparked opposition within Shinde's own party. Key leaders from Shiv Sena's core group argue that promoting Shrikant to the role of Deputy CM could harm the party's image, especially considering their past criticisms of Uddhav Thackeray for promoting his own son, Aditya Thackeray, to significant positions.

It is also notable that Devendra Fadnavis is widely expected to become the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra, as the BJP Central leadership has given its approval. A senior BJP leader confirmed to Shinde on November 25 that Fadnavis would take over as CM, after which Eknath Shinde submitted his resignation on November 26.

In the meantime, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) MP Naresh Mhaske stated that his camp would accept Fadnavis as Maharashtra's CM if the decision is endorsed by the Mahayuti alliance. He contrasted this with Uddhav Thackeray's camp, claiming that unlike them, they would not abandon the alliance over the Chief Minister's position.

Reports have also suggested that Ajit Pawar could return as Deputy CM and may once again take charge of the Finance Ministry. Additionally, Eknath Shinde has been offered the Deputy CM position, but if he declines, he may be considered for a central government position instead.

Reports indicate that a new government is likely to be formed by the end of this week, with the swearing-in ceremony set to take place in Mumbai on December 2. Preparations are underway for a grand event, which is expected to be attended by saints and VIP guests.

The BJP has strongly backed Devendra Fadnavis for the position of CM due to his leadership in the party's landslide victory in the Mahayuti alliance, securing 132 of the 230 seats. In contrast, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena secured just 57 seats, while Ajit Pawar's NCP won 41.

Fadnavis is also considered the most prominent BJP leader in the state, enjoying the backing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, both of whom have supported him in his bid for CM.

According to reports, the Shinde-backed Shiv Sena faction has stated that Eknath Shinde is not interested in taking the Deputy CM role. However, discussions on the matter are still ongoing.