Shinde's claim came while speaking to the reporters on Sunday. After he reached Satara, Shinde complained of fever and throat pain and was put on saline on Saturday. Later, Shinde left for Thane on Sunday evening.

In addition to the BJP's dominance with 132 seats in the 288-member Assembly, the Shiv Sena secured 57 seats, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction won 41 seats, enabling the Mahayuti alliance to form a government comfortably.

Eknath Shinde asserts that the people of Maharashtra want him back as Chief Minister, citing his connection with the common man during his tenure. He emphasises support for the BJP’s decisions while reflecting on his administration’s achievements and the need for clarity in leadership.

However, he reiterated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah would decide on who will head the state government.

He also sought to remind the BJP central leadership that Assembly elections were successfully fought under his leadership although he reiterated that his party will support the decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Maharashtra's caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who was in his native village for two days after taking ill, has broken his silence on the new CM stalemate. Speaking to the media, he said that all three allies of the Mahayuti have a good understanding and that the CM candidate will be decided on Monday.

Caretaker CM Eknath Shinde expressed support for any decision on Maharashtra's CM post made by PM Modi, Amit Shah, and JP Nadda, without clearly stating his own position. Talks about the new government,

Amid the suspense over the Chief Ministerial face in Maharashtra, caretaker Chief Minister, and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde on Dec 01 returned to Mumbai from his native village in Satara, where he had gone to recuperate after a brief illness.

Maharashtra caretaker CM Eknath Shinde said, "I am doing good now. I had come here to rest after the hectic election schedule... I did not take any leave during my 2.5 years as the CM. People are still here to meet me.

Addressing mediapersons in his native village, Shinde said that the Mahayuti aliiance's chief minister candidate will be decided tomorrow and reiterated that he has already given his "unconditional support" to the decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,