Eknath Shinde was unwilling to be part of the new Mahayuti government in Maharashtra and instead wanted to focus on building his party, revealed Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant on Friday. 

However, the Shiv Sena chief, who served as chief minister in the previous government relented due to the demand of the party leader, he said, reported PTI. 

“Eknath Shinde was not interested in becoming deputy CM. Party MLAs and leaders insisted that he should be part of the government because it is his responsibility to ensure that the schemes he launched are taken forward,” Samant told reporters.

Following the swearing-in ceremony on Thursday, Shinde spoke to party leaders at the party office and told them “he wanted to build the organisation but honoured our request.” 

Devendra Fadnavis took oath as chief minister of Maharashtra for the third time on Thursday while Shinde and NCP chief Ajit Pawar took oath as his deputies. The swearing-in ceremony came two weeks after the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition won a massive victory in the assembly elections. 

Meanwhile, the new Maharashtra government’s cabinet expansion is likely to take place on December 11 or 12, reported PTI, quoting sources. 

In all likelihood, NCP is expected to retain Finance and the BJP is the Home department as in the previous Eknath Shinde-led government, the report added. 

The Shinde-led Shiv Sena is likely to retain Urban Development and may also get revenue. The final decision on how many ministers would take oath will be known in a day or two, said a senior BJP leader. 

The ministers will be administered oath by pro-tem Speaker Kalidas Kolambkar at a three-day special session of the assembly that starts on Saturday.

The election for the Speaker will be held on Monday, followed by a trust vote of the new government and the Governor’s address to the joint session of both Houses. 

The winter session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly will begin in Nagpur the state’s second capital, from December 16.