Maharashtra: Eknath Shinde Rushed To Hospital Days Ahead Of Govt Formation - Update

Caretaker Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde was admitted to Jupiter Hospital in Thane following concerns over his health condition. Visuals are coming from outside the hospital.  Shinde has been suffering from a throat infection and fever since last week, since the visit to his native village, Satara. He was asked earlier about his health conditions by ANI reporters, to which the Maharashtra Caretaker CM said, "Badhiya hai."

The development comes just 48 hours prior to the government formation in Maharashtra. In the assemble election results declared on November 23, the Mahayuti alliance won with a decisive mandate. The alliance which consists of The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), along with Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP is slated to form a government on December 5, 2024. Even though the BJP is firm on Devendra Fadnavis as the next Maharashtra Chief Minister, there is reportedly a delay in a formal announcement regarding the next Maharashtra CM. 

On Monday, BJP appointed named Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani as central observers for its state legislature party's meeting. While the BJP is firm on the name of Fadnavis as the next CM, impasse continues over the Deputy CM candidate. Earlier, reports suggested that Shiv Sena was projecting the name of Shinde's son Srikant Shinde for the post of Deputy CM, along with Ajit Pawar of the NCP.

Senior BJP leader Girish Mahajan met Eknath Shinde on Monday to discuss preparations for the swearing-in ceremony. Mahajan had told reporters that the caretaker Chief Minister was recovering well.
He also underlined that there are no conflicts among the leaders of the Mahayuti alliance.

“I came here to meet Eknath Shinde, who has not been well for the past few days. There is no displeasure. We sat together for an hour and had a conversation. He also discussed preparations for December 5, and I shared some thoughts as well. We have a lot of work to do for the people of the state, and we are going to work together for them,” Girish Mahajan told reporters after his meeting with Shinde, ANI reported.