MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde resigned from his position on Tuesday, he submitted his resignation to Governor CP Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai, marking the end of his tenure as the head of the state government. The Governor has requested Shinde to continue as the caretaker Chief Minister until a new government is formed.

The resignation comes in the wake of the recent Maharashtra assembly elections, where the Mahayuti alliance, comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde and the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), secured a resounding victory. The alliance won 234 out of 288 seats, with the BJP emerging as the single largest party, winning 132 seats.

Shinde's resignation becomes important since, despite the alliance's decisive win, there is ongoing suspense over who will be the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Both Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis are considered strong contenders for the top post. 

The BJP's impressive performance in the elections has bolstered Fadnavis's claim to the position, while the Shiv Sena faction led by Shinde is keen on retaining the Chief Minister's office and the decision on the next Chief Minister is expected to be finalized soon, with senior leaders from the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP engaged in discussions. The outcome will have significant implications for the state's political landscape and governance.

Following his resignation, Shinde appealed to his supporters to avoid congregating at his residence or elsewhere, emphasizing the unity and strength of the Mahayuti alliance. He expressed confidence that the alliance would continue to work together for a prosperous Maharashtra.

Notably the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition suffered a crushing defeat in the elections, the partners which include Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT), Sharad Pawar's NCP, and the Congress winning only 46 seats against Mahayuti's overwhelming 235-seat triumph.