Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde with his son and MP Shrikant Shinde and daughter-in-law Vrishali Shinde meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on December 26, 2024. Photo Credit: ANI
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Thursday (Dec 26, 2024) in what he described as a “courtesy call” following the expansion of the state cabinet. Shinde, who spent an hour with the Prime Minister, was accompanied by his son Srikant Shinde, Lok Sabha MP from Kalyan and daughter-in-law Vrishali Shinde.
The deputy chief minister also met Union ministers Amit Shah, JP Nadda and Kiran Rijiju during his visit to the national capital, which stopped before heading to Srinagar for a family vacation. This marked Mr Shinde’s second meeting with the Prime Minister, the first being on 22 July.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Shinde said his discussions with Prime Minister Modi were not political but focused on the development of Maharashtra.
This is my first meeting with the Prime Minister after the expansion of the Maharashtra Cabinet. I also got an opportunity to meet Union Ministers Amit Shah, JP Nadda and Kiran Rijiju,” he said. “In the last two-and-a-half years, we have shown how projects and welfare schemes can be implemented effectively. People have accepted and appreciated our efforts. I I thank the Prime Minister for his visit to Maharashtra during the assembly elections,” he added.
Mr. Shinde reiterated his government’s ambition to position Maharashtra as a trillion dollar economy, in line with the Prime Minister’s broader goal of transforming India into a $5 trillion economy. “Under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, we aim to create a roadmap that will firmly establish Maharashtra as a leading state in the country. Our focus will be on addressing untapped areas for the last two-and-a-half years,” he said.
‘One Nation, One Election’
As his son Srikant Shinde is a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee studying the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill, Mr Shinde reiterated his support for the initiative, criticizing opposition parties, particularly the Congress, for opposing it. concept.
People spend a lot of money on elections. Implementing ‘One Nation, One Election’ will not only save these resources but also help in the development of the country, Shinde said. “It is disappointing that the opposition parties, especially the Congress, have failed to recognize the benefits of such reforms,” he added.
The role of the parent minister has been a point of contention within the BJP-led grand coalition government. Mr. Shinde is seeking the Guardian Minister post for his home district of Thane, while Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is lobbying for Pune.
published – December 27, 2024 at 03:42 pm IST