‘Eknath Shinde for CM’ posters put up in Thane locality

Mumbai: Even as Shiv Sena continues to project Aaditya Thackeray as its chief ministerial candidate, posters have now come up across Thane projecting Eknath Shinde as the next chief minister of Maharashtra.

Ashok Patil, president of Mumbai Marathi Vahtook Vyapar Sena, has put up these posters in Kolbad area of Thane, hoping that Mr Shinde would become the next chief minister.

These Marathi-language posters say, “Aamche Thanyache Laadke Dhanya Wagh Shri Eknath Shinde Saheb Maharashtrache Mukhyamantri Hovot Hich Aai Tulja Bhavanichya Charani Prarthana. (We pray to Tulja Bhavani that Shinde, our beloved leader, becomes the next chief minister)”.

A couple of days back, Mr Shinde had been appointed as the Sena’s legislative party leader. He has been elected from Kopri-Pachpakhadi Assembly constituency in Thane for a third successive time.

However, Mr Shinde has already clarified that the Sena’s chief ministerial candidate will be decided by party chief Uddhav Thackeray.

“In Shiv Sena, the word of party chief Uddhavji is final. Whatever directive he gives, we follow it earnestly,” he has said.

Ever since, Uddhav’s son Aaditya decided to contest the Vidhan Sabha polls, he has been projected as party’s next chief minister.

Aaditya — the first from the Thackeray family to contest a direct election — won from Worli constituency by over 70,000 votes.

Meanwhile, Kishori Pednekar, his staunch supporter and Sena corporator from Worli, has also written a social media post expressing her eagerness to hear Aaditya take oath of office and secrecy.

The Sena, in alliance with the BJP, won 56 seats in the recently concluded Assembly polls in the state.