I Think Fadnavis Didn’t Accept Maha Deputy CM Post Happily: Pawar

Mumbai: NCP chief Sharad Pawar claimed on Thursday that he doesn’t think that former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis accepted the Deputy CM post “happily”.

“I think Fadnavis has not accepted the number two position happily. His facial expression said it all,” PTI quoted Pawar as saying.

“(But) He is from Nagpur and he has worked as a ‘swayamsevak’ (with the RSS) and there, when an order comes, it has to be followed,” the NCP chief said, adding that Fadnavis might have accepted a junior position due to these ‘values’.

The NCP chief also said that the rebel group of MLAs camping in Guwahati did not expect their leader to become anything more than a deputy chief minister.

“But after the BJP’s central leadership gave the orders, the chief minister’s post was given to Shinde. Nobody had an inkling about it. I think Shinde himself had no idea. The second surprise, which I do not think is a surprise really, is that Devendra Fadnavis, who worked as CM for five years and then opposition leader, had to take the post of Deputy CM following directions from the central leadership,” Pawar said.

However, he said such incidents have happened in the past as well.

Refuting the claim that Shiv Sena’s alliance with NCP and Congress was the primary reason behind the revolt, Pawar said, “This allegation is baseless. It has no connection with NCP and Congress. Something has to be told to people (as an excuse), which is why NCP and Congress are being blamed.”

Pawar further said that he has spoken to Shinde and congratulated him.

Notably, while Shiv Sena rebel leader Shinde was sworn in as the new chief minister of Maharashtra earlier in the day, Devendra Fadnavis, a former chief minister who had said he would stay out, took oath as the deputy CM.

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