Rise Of Eknath Shinde: From Auto-Rickshaw Driver To Maharashtra CM

Eknath Shinde, who led a revolt against Shiv Sena leading to the collapse of the 31-month-old Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, took oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Thursday evening.

Shinde was administered an oath by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at the Raj Bhavan in Mumbai. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis took an oath as Deputy Chief Minister.

Rise of Eknath Shinde | BCCL

Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde's early life was so humble, who is at the center of the current political unrest in Maharashtra. Eknath Shinde's journey had humble beginnings and now rose to become a head of the state of Maharashtra, as he took oath as CM of Maharashtra.

Before political unrest, Eknath Sambhaji Shinde was Cabinet Minister of Urban Development and Public Works in the Government Of Maharashtra. He is currently a Member of the Legislative Assembly from Kopri-Pachpakhadi constituency of Thane as a member of Shiv Sena.

Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, once a driver of an auto-rickshaw, Shinde quickly emerged as a key leader of the Shiv Sena Party, now he is the CM of Maharashtra. Here's all you need to know about Eknath Shinde.

Who is Eknath Shinde?

Eknath Sambhaji Rao Shinde was born in Maharashtra¡¯s Satara on February 9, 1964, Shinde hails from the Maratha community. Shinde's family shifted to Thane in search of livelihood, and Eknath Sindhe completed his education until class 11 at Mangala High School and Junior College, Thane.

From autorickshaw driver to Maharashtra CM

Rise of Eknath Shinde | IndiaToday/Photo for representation

To support his family, Eknath Sindhe started doing odd jobs to eke a living and eventually started driving an auto-rickshaw in Thane.

Shinde left his education before he could complete graduation and soon got associated with the Shiv Sena when it was growing in the state. Shinde was reportedly influenced by the ideologies of Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray. Shinde joined the party as a Sainik, introduced by then Shiv Sena President of the Thane unit Anand Dighe in early 1980.

Rise of Eknath Shinde

Rise of Eknath Shinde | Twitter

Eknath Shinde started his career as a labour leader at the front end of Sena¡¯s agitations and during the Maharashtra¨CKarnataka Agitation over the status of Belgauvi, Eknath Shinde was arrested and imprisoned for 40 days. Shinde's first key political position was as the corporator of Thane Municipal Corporation in 1997.

In 2001, Shinde was elected as a Leader of the house in TMC and he continued to occupy the post till 2004.

In 2004, Eknath Shinde was given an opportunity to contest the Assembly Elections from Thane Assembly Constituency by Balasaheb Thackeray, and he won it with a handsome majority. Since 2004, Sindhe has been elected consecutively for 4 terms in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2019.

Ups and downs in his Personal life

Eknath Shinde is married to Lata Shinde and his lone surviving son, Shrikant is now an orthopedic surgeon and a second-term Member of Parliament from Kalyan and a member of the Shiv Sena political party. During the dawn of the millennium on June 2, 2000, Shinde lost his other son Dipesh (aged 11) and his daughter Shubhada (aged 7) in an accident when the children drowned after their boat capsized in a lake near Shinde¡¯s native village. Shinde reportedly went into depression after the great personal tragedy. However, this was the time that turned out to be politically significant for him.

Now a grassroots leader reaching the helm of power in the state of Maharashtra.

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