New CM for Maharashtra amid NCP rift? Opposition leaders say Eknath Shinde will…

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Days after Ajit Pawar's appointment as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Opposition leaders have claimed that he will soon oust CM Eknath Shinde from the top spot. The allegations have been vehemently denied by members of the BJP and Shiv Sena. As the NCP power tussle continues, Ajit Pawar has also made no bones about his desire to become CM.

"The chief minister of Maharashtra may be changed in the coming days," Shiv Sena (UBT) lawmaker Sanjay Raut said earlier this week. "We have information that Eknath Shinde might be suspended from the Assembly for his rebellion in a month, by August 10 to 11. So if Shide and his 16 MLAs are thrown out, the CM post may come to Ajit Pawar.

We know that he has been promised that," Prithviraj Chavan added. Buzz around the Chief Minister post was also exacerbated by Pawar's comments as he proclaimed himself NCP chief and approached the Election Commission for control of the party and its symbol.  "I was sworn in deputy CM five times. It is a record but the vehicle stops there, doesn't proceed further.

I feel from the bottom of my heart that I should become pramukh (cm) of the state. I have some things which I want to implement and for that becoming pramukh (CM) is essential," Ajit Pawar had said on Wednesday. The BJP and Shiv Sena meanwhile vehemently denied the disqualification claims.

Chief Minister Shinde also urged the NCP to introspect and focus on the brewing crisis within the party. "All our senior leaders including Devendra Fadnavis have already told that Eknath Shinde will remain as CM. He is doing a good job for the state.