Watch video: Rebel Shiv Sena MLAs celebrate at Goa hotel as Eknath Shinde all set to take oath as Maharashtra CM

In a unexpected political twist, Shiv Sena's rebel group leader Eknath Shinde was on Thursday announced as the Maharashtra Chief Minister, heading a government supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party. Soon after the announcement, the rebel MLAs supporting Shinde were seen celebrating at a hotel in Goa.

Currently, a herd of rebel MLAs are camping at a five star hotel in the BJP ruled Goa after their arrival from Assam.

In a video shared by news agecny ANI, after Devendra Fadnavis announced Eknath Shinde as next Maharashtra CM, his supporting MLAs hailed him and celebrated the moment. The MLAs were dancing while cheering for Eknath Shinde; few also got on the top of tables at the hotel and danced.

The hotel staff present there asked the MLAs to get off the table.

Fadnavis made the stunning announcement after calling on Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari along with Shinde this afternoon.

"We have submitted a list of entire BJP MLAs, the Group led by Shindeji, 16 independents and others, with more joining us, to the Governor," he said.

Shinde will be sworn-in alone as the CM at 7.30 p.m. and later on, the cabinet will be expanded to accommodate MLAs from both sides.

Shinde, on his part, said he would work for the progress and development of the state which had "practically halted" since the past 30 months of the previous government and reiterated that he would follow the ideals of Bahasaheb Thackeray's Hindutva.

He also thanked the BJP and Fadnavis for their large-heartedness in supporting his prospective government.

Fadnavis said, "I will remain out of the government, but I shall do everything possible to make the new government a success on all fronts, and resume the developmental activities that had stopped in the past two and half years."

Earlier, in the past 9 days, the rebel camp had repeatedly asserted that while Fadnavis would return as Chief Minister, Shinde would be the Deputy Chief Minister, but the latest developments put to rest all the claims.

Published on: Thursday, June 30, 2022, 05:50 PM IST