Eknath Shinde's Journey to Leadership

Eknath Shinde, who assumed the role of Chief Minister with the support of the BJP, after rallying MLAs from his faction, was at the forefront of a 'revolt' until recently. However, the leadership of the rebellion has now transitioned to Shinde Vijayabauta.

Mumbai, November 23: Eknath Shinde, who gained Chief Minister position by aligning with the BJP and gathering MLAs from his own faction, was spearheading the 'revolt' just a day ago. Today, he stands as a prominent leader. Shinde, who separated from the Shiv Sena two and a half years ago with BJP's aid and went on to seize the Chief Minister's seat, has swiftly risen to a top position through recent elections.

He is now regarded as a legendary leader in Maharashtra. Uddhav Thackeray identified him as the head of the 'true Shiv Sena' amidst the Shiv Sena's collapse. Contesting 15 seats in the previous Lok Sabha elections without making a significant impact, Shinde's Shiv Sena secured victory in the latest assembly elections, winning 57 seats as part of the Mahayuti alliance. It is believed that the support for the various schemes he implemented during his tenure as Chief Minister for two and a half years contributed to his electoral success. Shinde took office as Chief Minister on July 30, 2022, after receiving BJP's backing, following a rebellion against Shiv Sena party leader Uddhav Thackeray with 40 MLAs. Known for his reserved nature, Shinde, aged 58, hails from Jawali in Satara Taluk. In his earlier years, Shinde drove an auto rickshaw in Thane to provide for his family.

An avid follower of Bal Thackeray, Shinde's political journey commenced in 1980 with the blessings of former Thane Shiv Sena president Anand Deighe. He secured a position in the Thane Municipal Corporation in 1997. In 2001, Shinde succeeded Anand Deighe as the head of Shiv Sena in Thane. His significance within the party grew notably after Bal Thackeray's nephew, Raj Thackeray, departed from the party to form the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. In addition to the recent victories, Shinde has consecutively won as an MLA from the Kopri-Pach Pakhadi Assembly constituency five times in 2004, 2009, 2014, 2019, and 2024. In 2019, he assumed the position of Minister of Health and Family Welfare. Shinde's son, Srikanth Shinde, is a doctor, who in 2014, won a Lok Sabha seat from Kalyan constituency.