'Dada has experience...': Eknath Shinde takes quick-witted jibe at Ajit Pawar after NCP chief's interjection

Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde on Wednesday took a sarcastic dig at Ajit Pawar during a press conference. Shinde's witty response came after the NCP chief interjected and made a remark to a question directed towards the former Maharashtra CM.

In a press conference, when asked about his decision on accepting Mahayuti's invitation for him to take on the role of Deputy CM to Maharashtra, alongside Pawar, Shinde said that the media should wait for an answer till the evening.

However, Pawar was quick to interrupt and say that his decision to take on the role of Deputy Chief Minister was final.


"He will decide by evening but I am taking oath tomorrow for sure. I am not going to wait," said Pawar, who served as Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister under Mahayuti's first government, albeit with Devendra Fadnavis.

Shinde, who was recently rushed to a hospital following a health scare, gave a witty response to an excited Pawar.

"Ajit Dada has experience. He can take oath in the morning as well as in the evening," said Shinde.

Eknath Shinde for Deputy CM post?

On the political front, Shiv Sena sources on Wednesday evening told news agency ANI that Eknath Shinde would be taking the oath as Maharastra's Deputy Chief Minister with Ajit Pawar.

Devendra Fadnavis is set to return as Chief Minister for the third time. Fadnavis will work alongside Eknath Shinde, who served as the CM during Mahayuti’s first term.

Earlier on Wednesday, Fadnavis, Shinde, and NCP leader Ajit Pawar met with Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan to formally stake their claim to form the new government. The meeting followed the BJP legislature party's election of Fadnavis as their leader.

Fadnavis, addressing the media after his meeting with the Governor, confirmed that the oath-taking ceremony for the new government would take place on December 5 at 5:30 PM. In his statement, Fadnavis revealed that he had "requested" Eknath Shinde, the Shiv Sena leader, to be a part of the new government.

Devendra Fadnavis hails Eknath Shinde

During the briefing, Fadnavis also acknowledged that Shinde had sent a letter to the Governor recommending his name for the position of Chief Minister.

“Eknath Shinde, in his capacity as President of Shiv Sena and head of Shiv Sena's Legislature Party, has given a letter recommending my name for the post of Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Along with this, Nationalist Congress Party President and Legislature Party leader Ajit Dada Pawar has also given a similar letter. Independent MLAs supporting us have also submitted letters to the Governor,” Fadnavis added.

The 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections resulted in a decisive win for the Mahayuti alliance, which secured 235 seats out of 288. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the single-largest party, winning 132 seats.

The Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party also made significant gains, securing 57 and 41 seats respectively, setting the stage for the formation of the new government under the Mahayuti banner.

This development marks the beginning of Mahayuti 2.0, a continuation of the alliance that has solidified its hold on Maharashtra’s political landscape.