Maharashtra's caretaker Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, is recovering after falling ill in his native village, Dare, located in Satara district. Shinde, who developed a high fever on Saturday, was examined by a team of doctors and is expected to return to Mumbai by Sunday evening, according to an associate.
Dr. R.M. Parte, Shinde’s family doctor, revealed that the Shiv Sena leader was suffering from a fever and throat infection. “He has been given medicines and is on IV therapy. He should feel better in two days,” Dr. Parte said, as reported by PTI. Shinde had traveled to his village on Friday amid growing speculation about his dissatisfaction with the ongoing discussions over Maharashtra’s new government formation.
The swearing-inceremony for the new Mahayuti government is scheduled for December 5 at Azad Maidan, South Mumbai, confirmed BJP state chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule. PrimeMinisterNarendraModi is likely to attend the event. While the next chief minister’s name remains undisclosed, DevendraFadnavis is reportedly the frontrunner, according to BJP insiders. Fadnavis has previously served as Maharashtra's chief minister twice and was deputy CM in the Shinde-led government.
The Mahayuti alliance—comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP—achieved a landslide victory in the November 23 assembly elections, securing 230 seats in the 288-member assembly. The BJP won 132 seats, followed by the Shiv Sena with 57 and the NCP with 41, comfortably crossing the 145-seat majority mark.