Mumbai: Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde left Goa for Mumbai on Thursday afternoon, where he is scheduled to meet Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis.
Shinde and other rebel MLAs, who arrived in Goa on Wednesday night from Guwahati, stayed at a resort at Dona Paula near Panaji. While other MLAs continued to be at the resort, Shinde stepped out amid tight police security around 12.20 pm.
“I am going to Mumbai to meet the Maharashtra Governor. All other MLAs are staying in Goa at present,” Shinde told reporters outside the resort. Party sources said that Shinde is also likely to meet senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, who is expected to make a comeback as Chief Minister.
On Wednesday night, Uddhav Thackeray resigned as Maharashtra chief minister, which paved the way for the return of the BJP to power. The rebel Shiv Sena MLAs led by Shinde are likely to support the BJP to form a government.
Earlier today, Shinde took to Twitter and dismissed rumours of finalising portfolio distribution with the BJP. He said there has been no such discussion with Fadnavis or BJP so far. “There has been no discussion with BJP about who and how many ministerial posts will be there, it will happen soon. Until then, please don’t believe the ministerial lists and rumours about it,” Shinde’s Twitter handle read.
