Guwahati: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde Saturday offered prayers at the Kamakhya Devi temple in Assam’s Guwahati along with MPs and MLAs of his faction of the Shiv Sena as well as leaders from the BJP.
Shinde’s visit comes five months after he led a rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray, and formed an alliance with the BJP to become Chief Minister.
Shinde had last visited the temple June-end during his stay at a five-star hotel in Guwahati along with rebel Sena and Independent legislators who pledged to support him.
According to reports, At the time, he had vowed to return to the temple to “express gratitude to the Goddess for blessing them and fulfilling their vow of forming the government”.
Speaking to media personnel, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that his Balasahebanchi Shivsena leaders and he offered prayers at Kamakhya Temple “wholeheartedly”. He also stated that they prayed for everyone’s happiness.
Shinde has been accompanied by all state legislators, except six MLAs and one MP. MLAs Chandrakant Patil, Mahendra Dalvi, Sanjay Gaikwad. Gulabrao Patil, Abdul Sattar, Tanaji Sawant, and MP Shrirang Barne did not accompany Shinde to Guwahati. They clarified that they could not join Shinde due to prior commitments.
The BJP leaders with Shinde included MP Ravindra Chavan and party leader Mohit Kamboj. His family members were also present.
The group is expected to stay at the Radisson Blu hotel, where all of them were stationed in June this year during the defection from Shiv Sena.
Shinde is also expected to hold a courtesy meet with Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.
