Eknath Shinde: 10 things you should know about the new Maharashtra CM

Eknath Shinde, the leader of the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, was announced to be the next CM of Maharashtra after his camp and the BJP staked claim to form the government. Here are a few facts you should know about the leader.

Eknath Shinde, the leader of the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, was announced to be the next CM of Maharashtra after his camp and the BJP staked claim to form the government. Credit: Instagram/mieknathshinde

Hailing from a Maratha family in Satara, Shinde had humble beginning as an autorickshaw driver. He eventually moved to Thane, where he started his political journey. Credit: PTI Photo

While doing odd jobs early in his career in 1980, he came under the influence of late Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray and Shiv Sena’s Thane-belt strongman Anand Dighe. Credit: Twitter/goelgauravbjp

Shinde had imbibed from Dighe his simplicity and nature of being a grassroots man available all the time-- and followed him to the hilt. Credit: Facebook/EknathShinde

He participated in many agitations, such as the Maharashtra-Karnataka agitation over the status of Belagavi, for which he was imprisoned. Credit: Facebook/EknathShinde

In 1997, he contested the election of Thane Municipal Corporation as a corporator under Shiv Sena's banner, winning it with a handsome majority. Credit: Facebook/EknathShinde

After the 2014 elections, he was elected as the leader of legislative party of Shiv Sena and subsequently the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly. Credit: PTI Photo

In 2004, Shinde contested the Assembly Elections from Thane Assembly Constituency, which he won. He proceeded to continue his winning streak in 2009, 2014 and 2019. Credit: PTI Photo

After the 2019 elections, Shinde was made the Urban Development Minister in the tri-party MVA government. Credit: PTI Photo

Eknath is a three-term MLA from the Kopri-Pachpakhadi constituency of the Thane district. His son, Dr Shrikant Shinde, is a two-term MP from the Kalyan seat of the district. Credit: Facebook/EknathShinde

In 2005, he was appointed to the coveted post of Shiv Sena Thane District Head. Credit: Facebook/EknathShinde