Eknath Shinde likely to return Mumbai today

Maharashtra's caretaker Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, is recovering from a high fever and throat infection after being treated at his native village in Dare. Shinde is expected to return to Mumbai by Sunday evening. The new Mahayuti government’s swearing-in ceremony is set for December 5, with Devendra Fadnavis likely to be the next Chief Minister.

NEW DELHI: Maharashtra's caretaker chief minister, Eknath Shinde , who took ill at his native village of Dare in the Satara district, is reportedly recovering and is expected to return to Mumbai by Sunday evening, according to an associate. Shinde developed a high fever and throat infection on Saturday, prompting a medical team to examine him. His family doctor, R M Parte, confirmed that Shinde had been put on intravenous therapy and was responding well to treatment.

"He has been given medicines and put on IV (intra-venous therapy for medication). He will feel better in two days. He is leaving for Mumbai on Sunday," Dr Parte told news channels on Saturday.

A close aide of Shinde stated on Sunday that the caretaker Chief Minister had been unwell for some time, with his condition worsening on Saturday. However, his recovery is progressing, and he is expected to travel back to the state capital later in the day. Shinde’s visit to his native village came amid reports that he was dissatisfied with the progress of the new state government’s formation following the recent assembly elections.

The swearing-in ceremony for Maharashtra's new Mahayuti government is scheduled for the evening of December 5 at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai. State BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule confirmed on Saturday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would attend the event. Although the next chief minister has yet to be officially announced, BJP sources indicate that Devendra Fadnavis , who has previously served as chief minister twice and was deputy CM in the previous Shinde-led government, is the leading candidate for the post.

The Mahayuti alliance , comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), secured a landslide victory in the assembly elections, held last month. The BJP won 132 seats, while Shiv Sena and NCP secured 57 and 41 seats, respectively, surpassing the 145-seat majority required in the 288-member House. Despite their strong electoral performance, the alliance has faced delays in finalising the new government’s structure, with internal disagreements reportedly hindering the decision on the Chief Minister's appointment.

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