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{{Short description|Indian politician}}
{{Short description|Indian politician (born 1964)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2021}}
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| honorific-prefix    =  
| honorific-prefix    =  
| name                = Eknath Shinde
| name                = Eknath Shinde
| image              = Eknath Sambhaji Shinde.jpg
| image              = File:Eknath Shinde with PM Narendra Modi Cropped.jpg
| alt                = Eknath Sambhaji Shinde
| alt                = Eknath Rao Shinde
| caption            =  
| caption            =  
| office            = [[Uddhav Thackeray ministry|Cabinet Minister]]<br>[[Government of Maharashtra]]  
| office             = 20th [[Chief Minister of Maharashtra]]
| minister            = *[[Ministry of Urban Development Government of Maharashtra|Urban Development.]]
| term_start          = {{start date|2022|06|30|df=yes}}
* Public Works (Including Public Undertakings)
| term_end            =
| term_start    = 28 November 2019
| subterm             = '''Cabinet'''
| term_end      =  
| suboffice          =
| predecessor  =[[Devendra Fadnavis]]
| deputy              = [[Devendra Fadnavis]]
| governor            = *[[Bhagat Singh Koshyari]]
*[[Ramesh Bais]]
| predecessor        = [[Uddhav Thackeray]]
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|Additional Ministries}}
| governor1          = *[[Bhagat Singh Koshyari]]
*[[Ramesh Bais]]
| 1blankname1        = [[Eknath Shinde ministry|Ministry and Departments]]
| 1namedata1          = *[[Ministry of General Administration (Maharashtra)|General Administration]]
*[[Ministry of Information Technology (Maharashtra)|Information Technology]]
*[[Ministry of Information and Public Relations (Maharashtra)|Information and Public Relations]]
*[[Ministry of Urban Development Government of Maharashtra|Urban Development.]]
*[[Ministry of Public Works (Including Public Undertakings) (Maharashtra)|Public Works (Including Public Undertakings)]]
*[[Ministry of Transport (Maharashtra)|Transport]]
*[[Ministry of Marketing (Maharashtra)|Marketing]]
*[[Ministry of Social Justice (Maharashtra)|Social Justice]]
*[[Ministry of Special Assistance (Maharashtra)|Special Assistance]]
*[[Ministry of Relief & Rehabilitation (Maharashtra)|Relief and Rehabilitation]]
*[[Ministry of Disaster Management (Maharashtra)|Disaster Management]]
*[[Ministry of Soil and Water Conservation (Maharashtra)|Soil and Water Conservation]]
*[[Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (Maharashtra)|Environment and climate change]].
*[[Minority Development and Aukaf (Maharashtra)|Minority Development and Aukaf]]
'''''Other departments not allocated to any Minister.'''''
*[[Ministry of Ex. Servicemen Welfare (Maharashtra)|Ex. Servicemen Welfare]]
*[[Ministry of Majority Welfare Development (Maharashtra)|Majority Welfare Development]]
*[[Ministry of Earthquake Rehabilitation (Maharashtra)|Earthquake Rehabilitation]]
*[[Ministry of Khar Land Development (Maharashtra)|Khar land Development]]
*[[Ministry of Disability Welfare (Maharashtra)|Disability Welfare]]
| term_start1        = 14 August 2022
| term_end1          =
| predecessor1        = *[[Uddhav Thackeray]]
{{small|(All Other Departments)}}
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
| office2            = [[List of Leader of the House of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly|Leader of the House of the <br />Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]]
| governor2          = *[[Bhagat Singh Koshyari]]
*[[Ramesh Bais]]
| 1blankname2        = [[List of speakers of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly|Speaker of the House]]
| 1namedata2          = *[[Zirwal Narhari Sitaram]] ''(Acting)''
*[[Rahul Narwekar]]
| 2blankname2        = [[List of deputy leaders of the house in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly|Deputy Leader]]
| 2namedata2          = [[Devendra Fadnavis]]
| termstart2          = 03 July 2022
| termend2            =
| predecessor2        = [[Uddhav Thackeray]]
| successor2          =
| office3            = [[Government of Maharashtra|Cabinet Minister <br />Government of Maharashtra]]
| term_start3        = 28 November 2019
| term_end3          = 27 June 2022
| predecessor3        =
| successor3          = [[Subhash Desai]]
| 1blankname3        = [[Chief Minister of Maharashtra|Chief Minister]]
| 1namedata3          = [[Uddhav Thackeray]]
| 2blankname3        = [[List of deputy chief ministers of Maharashtra|Deputy CM]]
| 2namedata3          = [[Ajit Pawar]]
| governor3          = [[Bhagat Singh Koshyari]]
| minister3          = *[[Ministry of Urban Development Government of Maharashtra|Urban Development.]]
*[[Ministry of Public Works (Including Public Undertakings) (Maharashtra)|Public Works (Including Public Undertakings)]]
*[[Ministry of State Border Defence (Maharashtra)|State Border Defence]] (Second)
| minister4          = * Public Works (including Public Undertakings)  
* Public Health and Family Welfare
| term_start4        = 5 December 2014
| term_end4          = 12 November 2019
| successor4          = * [[Rajesh Tope]]
* [[Himself]]
* [[Himself]]
| 1blankname          = Chief Minister
| 1namedata4         = [[Devendra Fadnavis]]
| 1namedata          = [[Uddhav Thackeray]]
| 1blankname4         = [[List of chief ministers of Maharashtra|Chief Minister]]
| governor            = [[Bhagat Singh Koshyari]]
| governor4           = * [[C. Vidyasagar Rao]]
| successor    =
| minister1  = * Public Works (including Public Undertakings)
* Public Health and Family Welfare
| term_start1        = 5 December 2014
| term_end1          = 12 November 2019
| predecessor1  = -
| successor1    = * [[Rajesh Tope]]
* [[Himself]]
| 1namedata1         = [[Devendra Fadnavis]]
| 1blankname1         = [[List of chief ministers of Maharashtra|Chief Minister]]
| governor1           = * [[C. Vidyasagar Rao]]
* [[Bhagat Singh Koshiyari]]
* [[Bhagat Singh Koshiyari]]
 
| office5            = 25th [[List of Leader of the Opposition of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly|Leader of the Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]]
|office2      = Guardian minister of Thane & Gadchiroli District
| 1namedata5          = [[Devendra Fadnavis]]
[[Government of Maharashtra]]
| 1blankname5        = [[List of chief ministers of Maharashtra|Chief Minister]]
| constituency2      = [[Kopri-Pachpakhadi (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Kopri-Pachpakhadi Vidhan Sabha constituency]]
| governor5          = * [[C. Vidyasagar Rao]]
| term_start2  = 09 January 2020
| term_start5        = 12 November 2014
| term_end2    =
| term_end5          = 5 December 2014
| predecessor2 =
| predecessor5        = [[Eknath Khadse]]
| successor2 =
| successor5          = [[Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil]]
 
| office6             = [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly|Member of Legislative Assembly]] of [[Maharashtra]]<ref name = KP0914/>
| office3      = [[List of current Indian opposition leaders|Leader of the Opposition<br/>Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]]
| constituency6       = [[Kopri-Pachpakhadi (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Kopri-Pachpakhadi]]
| term_start3 = 12 November 2014
| term_start6        = 2009
| term_end3 = 05 December 2014
| term_end6          =
| predecessor3      = [[Eknath Khadse]]
| predecessor6        = ''Constituency Established''
| successor3        = [[Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil]]
| constituency7      = [[Thane Assembly constituency|Thane]]
 
| term_start7        = 2004
| office4             = [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly|Member of Legislative Assembly]] of [[Maharashtra]]<ref name = KP0914/>
| term_end7          = 2009
| term_start4        = 2004
| predecessor7        = ''Moreshwar Joshi''
| constituency4       = [[Kopri-Pachpakhadi (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Kopri-Pachpakhadi Vidhan Sabha constituency]]
| successor7          = [[Rajan Vichare]]
| term_end4           =  
| office8            = [[Shiv Sena|Chairperson of Shiv Sena]]
| term_start8        = 17 February 2023
| term_end8           =  
| predecessor8        = [[Vacant]]
| office9            = Chairperson of [[Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena]]
| term_start9        = 10 October 2022
| term_end9          = 17 February 2023
| predecessor9        = Position Established
| successor9          = Position abolished
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|df=y|9 February 1964}}
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|df=y|9 February 1964}}
| birth_place        = [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
| birth_place        = [[Satara district|Dare]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
| birthname          = Eknath Sambhaji Shinde
| birthname          = Eknath Sambhaji Shinde
| nationality        =  
| nationality        = Indian
| party              = [[Shiv Sena]]
| otherparty          = [[Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena]] {{small|(2022-2023)}}
| spouse              =  
| party              = [[Shiv Sena]] {{small|(before 10 October 2022 and 17 February 2023-present)}}
| spouse              = Lata Eknath Shinde
| relations          =  
| relations          =  
| children            = [[Shrikant Shinde]]
| children            = [[Shrikant Shinde]]
| parents            = Sambhaji Shinde
| parents            = Sambhaji Shinde
| occupation          = politician
| alma_mater          = [[Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University|Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University, Nashik]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| occupation          = Politician
}}
}}


'''Eknath Shinde''' (born 9 February 1964) is the Cabinet Minister of Urban Development and Public Works (Public Undertakings) in [[Government Of Maharashtra]].<ref name = MaharashtraCabinet>{{Cite news|url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/maharashtra-cabinet-portfolios-announced-dy-cm-ajit-pawar-gets-finance-aaditya-thackeray-allotted-tourism-and-environment-ministry-7861731.html |title= Maharashtra Cabinet portfolios announced}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://marathi.abplive.com/news/mumbai/maharashtra-cabinet-ministry-list-governor-approved-allocation-of-portfolios-proposed-by-cm-uddhav-thackeray-729069 |title= महाराष्ट्र मंत्रिमंडळ खातेवाटप जाहीर}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Eknath Shinde is a minister in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/live-maharashtra-assembly-trust-vote/article6589513.ece|accessdate=13 November 2014}}</ref><ref name = PH2019/> He is current [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of Legislative Assembly]] from [[Kopri-Pachpakhadi (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Kopri-Pachpakhadi constituency]] of [[Thane]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]] as a member of [[Shiv Sena]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Eknath Sambhaji Shinde of S WINS the Kopri-pachpakhadi constituency {{!}} Maharastra , Maharastra Assembly Election 2014|url=http://www.newsreporter.in/eknath-sambhaji-shinde-of-s-wins-the-kopri-pachpakhadi-constituency-maharastra-maharastra-assembly-election-2014-548880|publisher=NewsReporter.in|accessdate=13 November 2014}}</ref> He has been elected consecutively for 4 terms in the [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]] for 2004, 2009, 2014 & 2019.<ref>{{cite web|title=Maharashtra state Assembly Election - Constituency Wise Result|url=http://specials.rediff.com/election/maha_ass_const04.htm|publisher=rediff.com|accessdate=12 November 2014}}</ref><ref name = KP0914>{{cite web|title=Sitting and previous MLAs from Kopri-Pachpakhadi Assembly Constituency |url=http://www.elections.in/maharashtra/assembly-constituencies/kopri-pachpakhadi.html | work = elections.in }}</ref>
'''Eknath Sambhaji Shinde''' (pronunciation: [[Help:IPA/Marathi|[eknaːt̪ʰ ʃin̪d̪e]]]; born 9 February 1964<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/who-is-eknath-shinde-all-you-need-to-know-about-shiv-senas-potential-defector|title=Watch: Who is Eknath Shinde? All you need to know about former auto driver on collision course with Shiv Sena leadership|website=[[Free Press Journal]]}}</ref>) is an Indian politician currently serving as the 20th and current [[List of chief ministers of Maharashtra|Chief Minister of Maharashtra]] since 30 June 2022. He is also serving as the  Chairman of [[Shiv Sena]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-21 |title=एकनाथ शिंदे को शिवसेना मुख्य नेता, राष्ट्रीय कार्यकारिणी की बैठक में हुआ फैसला |url=https://hindi.news18.com/news/maharashtra/mumbai-eknath-shinde-is-chief-leader-of-shiv-sena-decision-was-taken-in-meeting-of-national-executive-5425339.html |access-date=2023-02-21 |website=News18 हिंदी |language=hi}}</ref> since 18 February 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-30 |title=Eknath Shinde takes oath as Maharashtra CM, Devendra Fadnavis as his deputy |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/eknath-shinde-takes-oath-as-maharashtra-chief-minister-devendra-fadnavis-as-his-deputy-101656597041770.html |access-date=2022-06-30 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> He was earlier the Cabinet Minister of [[Ministry of Urban Development (Maharashtra)|Urban Development and Public Works (Public Undertakings)]] in the [[Thackeray ministry|Cabinet of Uddhav Thackeray]] from 2019 to 2022.<ref name = MaharashtraCabinet>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/maharashtra-cabinet-portfolios-announced-dy-cm-ajit-pawar-gets-finance-aaditya-thackeray-allotted-tourism-and-environment-ministry-7861731.html|title=Maharashtra Cabinet portfolios announced: Dy CM Ajit Pawar gets finance and economy, Aaditya Thackeray allotted tourism and environment ministry-Politics News, Firstpost|date=5 January 2020|website=Firstpost}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://marathi.abplive.com/news/mumbai/maharashtra-cabinet-ministry-list-governor-approved-allocation-of-portfolios-proposed-by-cm-uddhav-thackeray-729069|title=मंत्रिमंडळ खातेवाटपाला राज्यपालांची मंजुरी, अधिकृत खातेवाटप जाहीर|first=एबीपी माझा, वेब|last=टीम|date=5 January 2020|website=marathi.abplive.com|language=mr}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Eknath Shinde is a minister in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/live-maharashtra-assembly-trust-vote/article6589513.ece|access-date=13 November 2014}}</ref><ref name = PH2019/> He is a [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of Legislative Assembly]] from [[Kopri-Pachpakhadi (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Kopri-Pachpakhadi constituency]] of [[Thane]], [[Maharashtra]] since 2009.<ref>{{cite web|title=Eknath Sambhaji Shinde of S WINS the Kopri-pachpakhadi constituency {{!}} Maharastra & [He is also the president of Shiv Sena] Maharastra Assembly Election 2014|url=http://www.newsreporter.in/eknath-sambhaji-shinde-of-s-wins-the-kopri-pachpakhadi-constituency-maharastra-maharastra-assembly-election-2014-548880|publisher=NewsReporter.in|accessdate=13 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Maharashtra state Assembly Election - Constituency Wise Result|url=http://specials.rediff.com/election/maha_ass_const04.htm|publisher=rediff.com|access-date=12 November 2014}}</ref><ref name = KP0914>{{cite web|title=Sitting and previous MLAs from Kopri-Pachpakhadi Assembly Constituency |url=http://www.elections.in/maharashtra/assembly-constituencies/kopri-pachpakhadi.html | work = elections.in }}</ref>


==Family==
== Early life ==
His son Dr [[Shrikant Shinde]], an [[orthopaedic]] surgeon got elected as a [[Member of Parliament (India)|Member of Parliament]] to the [[Lok Sabha]] from the [[Kalyan (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kalyan constituency]] defeating the [[Nationalist Congress Party|NCP's]] [[Anand Paranjape]], who had defected from the Shiv Sena and Raju Patil of the [[Maharashtra Navnirman Sena|MNS]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Congress-NCP wiped out in Mumbai; Priya Dutt, Milind Deora lose |url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/congress-ncp-wiped-out-in-mumbai-priya-dutt-milind-deora-lose/15302152|accessdate=13 November 2014}}</ref>
Eknath Shinde hails from the Dare Village, [[Jawali Taluka, Maharashtra|Jawali taluka]] in [[Satara district|Satara]], Maharashtra, and belongs to the [[Maratha clan system|Maratha]] community.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/metro/mumbai/politics/maharashtra-political-crisis-what-is-eknath-shinde-caste-all-you-need-to-know-here/articleshow/92413513.cms|title=Eknath Shinde Caste: एकनाथ शिंदे की जाति क्या है? इंटरनेट पर क्यों हो रहा सर्च, जानिए|website=Navbharat Times|language=hi}}</ref> His family moved to Thane (in the Mumbai outskirts) to earn a living. Eknath studied till 11th standard at Mangala High School & Junior College, Thane.<ref>{{cite web|title=Eknath Sambhaji Shinde(SHS):Constituency- Kopri - Panchpakhadi(e-THANE)|url=http://myneta.info/mh2009/candidate.php?candidate_id=2288|accessdate=13 November 2014}}</ref> Shinde left education in early years to support his family, however, he resumed his education in 2014 after joining the [[First Fadnavis ministry|government ministry]]. He graduated with a [[Bachelor of Arts|Bachelor of Arts degree]] from [[Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University]] in 2020 with a score of 77.25% .<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-17 |title=Maharashtra Minister Eknath Shinde a Degree Holder Now, Tweets Lok Sabha MP Son |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/maharashtra-minister-eknath-shinde-a-degree-holder-now-tweets-lok-sabha-mp-son-3090245.html |access-date=2022-07-09 |website=News18 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-21 |title=Who is Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde and how did he rise through the ranks? |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/how-eknath-shinde-rose-through-sena-ranks-101655811574775.html |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Desk |first=India com News |title=Who is Eknath Shinde, Maharashtra’s New Chief Minister? |url=https://www.india.com/maharashtra/eknath-shinde-maharashtras-new-chief-minister-who-is-eknath-shinde-devendra-fadnavis-uddhav-thackeray-resigns-5484840/ |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=www.india.com |language=en}}</ref>


==Early life, Education and career==
Shinde used to drive an [[autorickshaw]] to support his family before entering politics.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Man of the moment: Who is Eknath Shinde, Shiv Sena strongman who pushed MVA to brink of collapse? |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/man-of-the-moment-who-is-eknath-shinde-shiv-sena-strongman-who-pushed-mva-to-brink-of-collapse/2569153/ |access-date=2022-06-27 |website=Financialexpress |language=en}}</ref>
Eknath Shinde hails from [[Maratha (caste)|maratha]] community of the mountainous [[Jawali Taluka, Maharashtra|Jawali taluka]] in [[Satara district|Satara]], Maharashtra. After coming to Thane city, he studied till 11th standard., from Mangala High School & Junior College, Thane<ref>{{cite web|title=Eknath Sambhaji Shinde(SHS):Constituency- Kopri - Panchpakhadi(THANE)|url=http://myneta.info/mh2009/candidate.php?candidate_id=2288|accessdate=13 November 2014}}</ref> and then started his early career as a small worker. He had to leave the education to earn the livelihood for his family. However, after becoming the minister in 2014 in BJP-Shivsena government, he resumed his studies and has now graduated in via distance education by Yashvantrao Chavan Open University, Maharashtra. He has earned his Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree with distinction, scoring 77.25 percentage. His final years subjects were Marathi and Politics. While doing odd jobs early in his career, he came under the influence of Shivsena supremo [[Bal Thackeray]] and Shivsena's Thane District Chief [[Anand Dighe]] and joined Shivsena in 1980s. He is a resident of Thane's [[Wagle estate]] area.
 
==Positions held==
* 1997 : Elected to Thane Municipal Corporation as corporator for the first time
* 2001 : Elected to the post of the leader of the house in Thane Municipal Corporation.
* 2002 : Elected to Thane Municipal Corporation for the second time
* 2004 : Elected to Maharashtra Legislative Assembly
* 2005 : Appointed as the Thane district head of Shiv Sena. First MLA to have been appointed at such a coveted post in the party
* 2009 : Elected to Maharashtra Legislative Assembly <ref name = KP0914/>
* 2014 : Elected to Maharashtra Legislative Assembly <ref name = KP0914/><ref>{{cite news|title=Eknath Shinde tops popularity charts|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thane/Eknath-Shinde-tops-popularity-charts/articleshow/44881533.cms|accessdate=14 November 2014}}</ref>
* October 2014 - December 2014: Leader of opposition [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]]
* 2014 - 2019: Cabinet Minister of PWD (PU) in Maharashtra State Government
* 2014 - 2019: Guardian minister of [[Thane District]]
* 2018 : Appointed as Leader of [[Shiv Sena]] Party <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.loksatta.com/mumbai-news/aditya-thackeray-appointed-as-shiv-sena-leader-manohar-joshi-sudhi-joshi-remain-same-1620595/|title= एकनाथ शिंदे, आनंदराव अडसूळ, अनंत गीते, चंद्रकांत खैरे, आदित्य ठाकरे यांची सेनेच्या नेतेपदी वर्णी}}</ref>
* 2019: Cabinet Minister of Public Health and Family Welfare ({{lang-mr|सार्वजनिक आरोग्य आणि कुटुंब कल्याण}}) in Maharashtra State Government <ref name = PH2019>{{cite news|title=महाराष्ट्र शासन सार्वजनिक आरोग्य विभाग |url=https://arogya.maharashtra.gov.in/1133/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95 }}</ref>
* 2019 : Elected to Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for the fourth consecutive time
* 2019 : Elected as the leader of the legislative party of Shivsena
* 28th Nov 2019 : Took oath as Cabinet Minister under Maha-Vikas-Aghadi headed by Honorable Chief minister of Maharashtra [[Uddhav Thackeray|Mr Uddhav ji Thackeray]]
* 2019: Appinted as minister of Urban Development and Public Works (Public Undertakings)<ref name = MaharashtraCabinet/>
* 2020: Appointed as guardian minister of [[Thane district]]<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-maharashtra-govt-appoints-guardian-ministers-for-all-36-districts-aaditya-gets-mumbai-suburban-pune-goes-to-ajit-pawar-2808645 | title = 2020: Maharashtra govt appoints guardian ministers for all 36 districts }}</ref>


==Political career==
==Political career==
{{BLP unsourced section|date=November 2019}}
Shinde was introduced to politics by then [[Thane district|Thane]] [[Shiv Sena|Shivsena]] President [[Anand Dighe]] in early 1980.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eknath Shinde: From Thane auto driver to Shiv Sena's top leader, all about him |url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/eknath-shinde-from-a-thane-auto-driver-to-shiv-senas-top-leader-all-about-the-man-who-rattled-the-thackerays-2477513.html |access-date=2022-06-27 |website=Zee News |language=en}}</ref> Shinde became successor to Dighe's legacy after his death in 2001.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-25 |title=Parallel lives: Shinde mentor Anand Dighe, Sena strongman and a thorn in Bal Thackeray’s side |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/shinde-mentor-anand-dighe-sena-strongman-thorn-in-bal-thackeray-side-7991237/ |access-date=2022-06-27 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> He has been elected as [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of Legislative Assembly]] since 2004 for four consecutive terms.
Like any other youth of Maharashtra from 1970s and 80s, Eknath Shinde too had a major influence of Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray. Additionally, he was also impressed by the working style of Shiv Sena's the then Thane district president Shri Anand Dighe, who later came to be known as Dharmaveer Anand Dighe or Dighe Saheb. He joined Shiv Sena in 1980s and was appointed Shakha Pramukh of Kisan Nagar. Since then, he had been at the forefront of many agitations, undertaken by his party on social and political issues, such as inflation, black marketing, hoarding of essential commodities such as palm oil by traders etc. He also took part in Maharashtra-Karnataka Border agitation in 1985, in which he was imprisoned in Bellary jail for over 40 days.


His dedication and work got noticed and in 1997, he was given the opportunity to contest the election of Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) as a corporator which he won with handsome majority.  In 2001, he got elected as a Leader of the house in TMC. He continued to occupy the post till 2004. As a leader of the house in TMC, he didn't restrict himself to the issues related to the TMC or the city, but took active interest in the overall development and well-being of the whole Thane district.
===Position held===
====Thane Municipal Corporation====
* 1997 : Elected to the [[Thane Municipal Corporation]] as a [[Councillor|corporator]] for the first time
* 2001 : Elected to the post of the leader of the house in Thane Municipal Corporation.<ref name="Rebel">{{cite web | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/eknath-shinde-from-a-seat-at-head-table-to-chief-of-rebellion-101655834989218.html | title=Eknath Shinde: From a seat at head table to chief of rebellion | publisher=Hindustan Times | date=21 June 2022 | accessdate=27 June 2022 | author=Kulkarni, Dhaval}}</ref>
* 2002 : Elected to the Thane Municipal Corporation for the second time


In 2004, Eknath Shinde was given an opportunity to contest the Assembly Elections from Thane Assembly Constituency by Balasaheb Thackeray and he won the same with handsome majority. In the very next year, in 2005, he was appointed at the coveted post of Shiv Sena Thane District Head. He was the first MLA from Shiv Sena to have been appointed as The District Head as well.
====Maharashtra Legislative Assembly & ministries ====
 
* [[2004 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|2004]] : Elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for the first time
He emerged victorious in the subsequent assembly elections in 2009, 2014 and 2019. After 2014 elections, he was elected as the leader of legislative party of Shiv Sena and subsequently the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly. Within a month, as Shiv Sena decided to join the state government, he took oath as the minister for Public Works Department (Public Undertakings) and went on to take the additional responsibility of the Health and Family Welfare Ministry in January 2019.
* 2005 : Appointed as the Thane district head of Shiv Sena. First MLA to have been appointed at such a coveted post in the party
* [[2009 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|2009]] : Elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for the 2nd time <ref name="KP0914" />
* [[2014 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|2014]] : Elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for the 3rd time<ref name="KP0914" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Eknath Shinde tops popularity charts|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thane/Eknath-Shinde-tops-popularity-charts/articleshow/44881533.cms|accessdate=14 November 2014}}</ref>
** October 2014 - December 2014: Leader of opposition [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]]** 2014 - 2019: Cabinet Minister of PWD (PU) in Maharashtra State Government<ref name="Rebel" />
** 2014 - 2019: Appointed as the guardian minister of [[Thane District]]
** 2018 : Appointed as a Leader of [[Shiv Sena]] Party <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loksatta.com/mumbai/aditya-thackeray-appointed-as-shiv-sena-leader-manohar-joshi-sudhi-joshi-remain-same-1620595/|title=आदित्य ठाकरेंची सेनेच्या नेतेपदी वर्णी, मनोहर जोशी, सुधीर जोशीही पदावर कायम|language=mr}}</ref>
** 2019 : Cabinet Minister of Public Health and Family Welfare ({{lang-mr|सार्वजनिक आरोग्य आणि कुटुंब कल्याण}}) in Maharashtra State Government <ref name="PH2019">{{cite news|title=महाराष्ट्र शासन सार्वजनिक आरोग्य विभाग |url=https://arogya.maharashtra.gov.in/1133/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95 }}</ref>
* [[2019 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|2019]] : Elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for the fourth consecutive time
** 2019 : Appointed as the minister of Urban Development and Public Works (Public Undertakings)<ref name="MaharashtraCabinet" />
** 2019 : Appointed as the Minister of Home Affairs (Acting) (28 November 2019 - 30 December 2019)
* 2020 : Appointed as the guardian minister of [[Thane district]]<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-maharashtra-govt-appoints-guardian-ministers-for-all-36-districts-aaditya-gets-mumbai-suburban-pune-goes-to-ajit-pawar-2808645 | title = 2020: Maharashtra govt appoints guardian ministers for all 36 districts }}</ref>


Recently, he was elected as the leader of legislative party of Shiv Sena for the second consecutive term.
====Chief Minister====
* 2022 : Appointed as the [[List of chief ministers of Maharashtra|Chief Minister of Maharashtra]] by [[Governor of Maharashtra]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-30 |title=Eknath Shinde will be sworn in as Maharashtra chief minister: Devendra Fadnavis |url=https://telanganatoday.com/eknath-shinde-will-be-sworn-in-as-maharashtra-chief-minister-devendra-fadnavis |access-date=2022-06-30 |website=Telangana Today |language=en-US}}</ref>


==Performance in the Legislature==
===Role in 2022 Maharashtra political crisis===
{{BLP unsourced section|date=November 2019}}
{{Main|2022 Maharashtra political crisis}}
In the 10 years from year 2004 to 2014, as the MLA of the main Opposition party in the Legislative Assembly, Eknath Shinde consistently raised many important issues concerning the state in general and Thane in particular, the most prominent being The Cluster Development scheme for dilapidated illegal buildings in Thane and MMR, Thane Metro, a New Extended Thane Station between Thane and Mulund, Water Scarcity, coastal security of the state, Modernization of the Police Force, Inflation, increasing debt of the State etc. He delivered his scholarly speeches on many such topics. After the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, the then Congress-NCP alliance government announced the modernization of police force and strengthening of maritime security. However, despite spending billions of rupees, maritime security was in shambles. Eknath Shinde proved that the government's announcement is only on paper.
Shinde was in favor of breaking the [[Maha Vikas Aghadi]] and reestablishing alliance with the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-25 |title='Want to save Shiv Sena from python MVA,' says Eknath Shinde|url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/want-to-save-shiv-sena-from-python-mva-says-eknath-shinde-as-16-rebel-mlas-receive-disqualification-notice-10837731.html/amp |access-date=2022-07-01 |website=Firstpost |language=en}}</ref> He requested [[Uddhav Thackeray]] to break the [[Maha Vikas Aghadi]] alliance due to ideological differences and unfair treatment by [[Indian National Congress|Congress Party]] and [[Nationalist Congress Party|NCP]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 22, 2022 |first=Chaitanya |last=Marpakwar |title=Maharashtra MVA crisis: What made Eknath Shinde turn against Shiv Sena |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/maharashtra-political-crisis-what-made-eknath-shinde-turn-against-shiv-sena/articleshow/92372903.cms |access-date=2022-07-01 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> His fellow Shiv Sena members said that their complaints were ignored by [[Uddhav Thackeray]] and Uddhav favored [[Indian National Congress|Congress Party]] and [[Nationalist Congress Party|NCP]] over his own Shiv Sena members.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Uddhav Thackeray Left 52 Sena MLAs, His Home, But Not Sharad Pawar: Rebels |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/uddhav-thackeray-left-52-sena-mlas-cms-residence-but-not-sharad-pawar-rebel-shiv-sena-mlas-3110858 |access-date=2022-07-01 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 24, 2022 |first=Abhishek |last=Choudhari |title=Ramtek Ind MLA joins rebel Sena group, says CM ignored his plaints |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/ramtek-ind-mla-joins-rebel-sena-group-says-cm-ignored-his-plaints/articleshow/92419491.cms |access-date=2022-07-01 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> Shinde gathered 2/3<sup>rd</sup> members from his party to support his request.<ref>{{Cite web |agency=PTI|date=Jun 29, 2022 |title=Maharashtra crisis: Uddhav Thackeray-led faction in hopeless minority within party, Eknath Shinde to SC |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/maharashtra-crisis-uddhav-thackeray-led-faction-in-hopeless-minority-within-party-eknath-shinde-to-sc/articleshow/92550287.cms |access-date=2022-06-30 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> The [[2022 Maharashtra political crisis|crisis]] began on 21 June 2022 when Shinde and several other [[Member of the Legislative Assembly|MLAs]] of the [[Maha Vikas Aghadi]] (MVA) coalition moved to [[Surat]] in BJP-governed [[Gujarat]], throwing the coalition into a chaos.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=June 21, 2022 |first=Darpan |last=Singh |title=Maharashtra political crisis: Why MVA coalition has always looked fragile |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/news-analysis/story/maharashtra-political-crisis-maha-vikas-aghadi-coalition-1965022-2022-06-21 |access-date=2022-06-23 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Karthikeyan |first=Suchitra |date=2022-06-22 |title=Maharashtra Political Crisis: MVA slides into minority; here’s how the numbers stand |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/maharashtra-political-crisis-mva-slides-into-minority-heres-how-the-numbers-stand/article65548913.ece |access-date=2022-06-23 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2022-06-23 |title=What’s next in the Maharashtra political crisis? Decoding the future of the MVA alliance |url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/whats-next-in-the-maharashtra-political-crisis-decoding-the-future-of-the-mva-alliance-10826921.html |access-date=2022-06-23 |website=Firstpost |language=en}}</ref> As a result of Shinde's revolt, [[Uddhav Thackeray]] resigned from the post of [[List of chief ministers of Maharashtra|Chief Minister of Maharashtra]] and said that he will also resign from the [[Maharashtra Legislative Council]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-29 |title=‘Don’t want to play these games. I resign’: Uddhav Thackeray ahead of trust vote |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/uddhav-thackeray-maharashtra-cm-floor-test-101656518180649.html |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=June 29, 2022 |title=You have brought down Balasaheb's son: Uddhav Thackeray resigns as Maharashtra CM |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/uddhav-thackeray-resigns-as-maharashtra-chief-minister-assembly-floor-test-1968314-2022-06-29 |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref> Shinde successfully reestablished alliance with BJP and was sworn in as the 20th Chief Minister, with [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]'s [[Devendra Fadnavis]] as the [[Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra|Deputy Chief Minister]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-30 |title=Maharashtra political crisis Live Updates: PM Modi congratulates Shinde, Fadnavis on becoming CM, Dy CM |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/maharashtra-political-crisis-news-live-updates-shiv-sena-eknath-shinde-supreme-court-uddhav-thackeray-7993148/ |access-date=2022-06-30 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Fadnavis's masterstroke: Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde to be next Maharashtra CM, move corners Uddhav further |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2022/jun/30/eknath-shinde-will-take-oath-as-next-maharashtra-cm-says-fadnavis-as-rebel-shiv-sena-leader-announce-2471469.html |access-date=2022-06-30 |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>


He was instrumental in getting approved two very important projects for Thane city, namely Cluster Development and Thane Metro. There are thousands of illegal buildings in Thane which has now become dilapidated. Every year a few buildings collapse and innocent residents get killed for no fault of theirs. Eknath Shinde demanded the rehabilitation of lakhs of such residents by redeveloping their residential buildings. However, since there was no provision for the redevelopment of illegal structures, the government was not paying any heed to his repeated demands. He kept raising this issue on the floor of the house in sessions after sessions, organised long march from Thane to Mantralay on 3 October 2013 and gheroed{{typo help inline|reason=similar to gheraoed|date=December 2019}} the then Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavhan on the steps of the Assembly. As a result of this sustained efforts, the then government had to announce the cluster development scheme for the redevelopment of dilapidated illegal buildings and rehabilitation of lakhs of residents.
===Shiv Sena leadership dispute===
After Eknath Shinde established the government, he started using the Shiv Sena name and symbols without Uddhav Thackrey. This created issues as Uddhav also claimed to be the leader of Shiv Sena. Uddhav's faction challenged this in court, which was eventually moved to the Election Commission of India. The Commission recognized Eknath Shinde's faction as the real Shiv Sena party, which ended the leadership dispute.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-02-17 |title=EC recognises Eknath Shinde faction as real Shiv Sena, allots it 'bow and arrow' symbol |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ec-recognises-eknath-shinde-faction-as-real-shiv-sena-allots-it-bow-and-arrow-symbol/articleshow/98019028.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2023-02-18 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> The Election Commission also found the changes made to the Shiv Sena party constitution in 2018, under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray, to be undemocratic. The amendments centralized the party's control and were criticized for not allowing free, fair, and transparent elections for the party positions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Uddhav Thackeray Loses Name, Symbol Of Shiv Sena Founded By Father |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/eknath-shinde-faction-gets-shiv-senas-bow-and-arrow-poll-symbol-3791900 |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref>


Likewise, the state government was ignoring the demand of Metro project connecting Thane to Mumbai. Instead, it announced metro projects for Pimpari-Chinchwad, Pune and Nagpur after the successful completion of first metro project in Mumbai. Shiv Sena MLAs from Thane under the leadership of Eknath Shinde opposed this move vehemently during assembly session and forced the government to sanction metro project for Thane. Today the work on Wadala-Ghatkopar-Thane metro is in full swing.
== Personal life ==
Shinde is married to Lata Shinde.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-01 |title=Eknath Shinde's Wife, Lata's Major Role In His Success From Being An Auto Driver To Maharashtra's CM |url=https://www.bollywoodshaadis.com/articles/maharashtra-chief-minister-eknath-shinde-auto-driver-wife-lata-shinde-two-kids-death-33508 |access-date=2022-07-01 |website=BollywoodShaadis |language=en}}</ref>


==Selection of Leader of the Opposition==
On 2 June 2000, their son Dipesh (aged 11) and daughter Shubhada (aged 7) went boating in a lake near their native village in Maharashtra. The boat overturned and both the children died by drowning. Shinde went into depression for several months. [[Anand Dighe]] provided emotional support to Shinde and entrusted him with greater responsibility in order to keep his mind occupied and away from depression.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pipanews.com/eknath-shinde-when-my-two-children-were-in-an-accident-anand-dighe-saheb-raised-me-again-eknath-shinde-my-two-kids-died-in-an-accident-after-that-anand-dighe-gave-support-to-me-says-shiv-sena-lea/|title=eknath shinde: When my two children were in an accident, Anand Dighe Saheb raised me again: Eknath Shinde – my two kids died in an accident after that anand dighe gave support to me says shiv sena leader|date=7 May 2022}}</ref>
{{BLP unsourced section|date=November 2019}}
Shiv Sena decided to sit in opposition after the assembly elections in 2014. Eknath Shinde was elected as the Leader of the Opposition in the state. A month later, as Shiv Sena decided to join the government, Eknath Shinde only got about a month as LOP. However, in such a short period of time, he made the government restless. There were droughts in some parts of the state at that time, and in some areas due to the rains and hailstorms, agriculture was severely damaged. Eknath Shinde toured every nook and corner of the state  and brought to the notice of the government the horribal condition of farmers and the apathy of government machinery towards them. As a result, the government had to declare compensation.


==Ministerial Performance==
Their surviving child, [[Shrikant Shinde]], is an [[orthopaedic]] surgeon who has also been the elected [[Member of Parliament (India)|Member of Parliament]] to the [[Lok Sabha]] from the [[Kalyan (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kalyan constituency]] since 2014 (re-elected in 2019).<ref>{{cite web|title=Congress-NCP wiped out in Mumbai; Priya Dutt, Milind Deora lose |url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/congress-ncp-wiped-out-in-mumbai-priya-dutt-milind-deora-lose/15302152|accessdate=13 November 2014}}</ref>
{{BLP unsourced section|date=November 2019}}
*'''Minister of Public Works (Public Enerprises):'''


After the Shivsena decided to join the BJP-led government in the state in December, Eknath Shinde was given the responsibility of Minister of Public Works. He became the designated chairman of the Maharashtra State Roads Development Corporation (MSRDC) under the authority of this ministry.
==Popular culture==
 
''[[Dharmaveer]],'' a 2022 Indian Marathi-language biographical drama film by [[Pravin Tarde]], covered [[Anand Dighe]] and Eknath Shinde's life.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-03 |title=Marathi flick ‘Dharmaveer’ puts spotlight on Eknath Shinde’s rising say in Shiv Sena politics |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/marathi-flick-dharamveer-spotlight-eknath-shindes-rising-shiv-sena-politics-8005544/ |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-14 |title=ZEE5 announces the release of Anand Dighe’s biopic 'Dharmaveer' |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/entertainment/zee5-announces-release-anand-1503081038.html |access-date=2022-06-30 |website=The Statesman |language=en-US}}</ref>  Kshitij Date played the role of Eknath Shinde.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-06 |title='The Scope on Their Work...': Kshitish Date on Playing Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde |url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/the-scope-on-their-work-kshitish-date-on-playing-maharashtra-cm-eknath-shinde-5500861.html |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=News18 |language=en}}</ref> Eknath Shinde has a starring role in Dharmaveer as one of Dighe’s most loyal foot soldiers.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eknath Shinde has a starring role in Dharmaveer |url=https://scroll.in/reel/1026821/did-a-marathi-film-released-in-may-predict-the-current-political-crisis-in-maharashtra |website=Scroll.in |publisher=Nandini Ramnath |access-date=2 September 2022}}</ref>
*'''Revival of MSRDC:'''
{{clear}}
 
[[MSRDC]] was created for the [[Mumbai-Pune Expressway]] project under the concept of Shivsena chief Balasaheb Thackeray and to promote road development in the state. The ambitious project, which has changed the face of Pune through MSRDC, was the first expressway of the Mumbai-Pune Express Highway, two flyovers in Mumbai, and [[Bandra-Worli Sea Link]] in Mumbai. However, after the Congress-NCP led government came to power in the state in 1949, the MSRDC was consciously ignored in the politics of power. As a result, MSRDC was almost on death row when Eknath Shinde assumed charge of the department in the first year. It had a debt of six thousand crores on her head and no project was going on.
In this case, Eknath Shinde started the revival of MSRDC.
He expressed confidence that MSRDC would become the growth engine of the state's development. In just five years, he proved this to be true. Today, through MSRDC,there are many ambitious projects are in progress such as [[Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway]] (Samrudhhi Highway), Mumbai-Pune Express Highway Capacity Extension, Third Bridge on Thane Bay at Vashi, Bandra-Versova Sea Link, six-laning and concretization of roads, 27 railway flypools in Vidarbha, A total of 1621&nbsp;km of national highway roads. In addition, the planning of the ambitious projects like Thane-Borivli Subway, Versova-Virar Sea-Link, Gaymukh-Fountain hotel-Ghodbundar advanced route, is in the final stages.
 
==Important Projects==
*'''[[Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway]] (Prosperity Corridor):'''
 
With travelling time between Nagpur to Mumbai set to be reduced to just six to eight hours from the present 14 hours, work on this 701&nbsp;km ambitious project is in full swing. Around 20% of the work is completed and progressing ahead as per schedule. With many projects of such magnitude getting delayed mainly due to the land acquisition issues, Eknath Shinde as MSRDC minister, took initiative and had a direct dialogue with farmers across the state whose land was to be acquired for this project. This created the confidence among farmers. Not only the best compensation package was offered for the project (the highest till date in the country), but it was ensured that the money reached the bank accounts of the beneficiaries before they were asked to sign the documents. This eliminated the middlemen and the possibility of corrupt practices. Farmers were not needed to visit government offices repeatedly to get their rightful compensation. This helped to gain farmers faith and the obstacles to the project were removed.
 
The project will be directly beneficial for 10 districts, 26 Talukas and 392 villages. It will also bring indirect benefits to adjoining 14 districts by way of improved road connectivity. Along with the Highway, 20 agro prosperity nodes will be developed with emphasis Logistics, Food Processing and Hospitality which will lead to job creation. As agricultural goods reach the financial markets like Mumbai in a timely manner, the farmers will get good prices and exports will also be encouraged.
 
*'''Capacity augmentation of Mumbai-Pune Express way:'''
 
[[Mumbai-Pune Expressway]] reduced the distance between Mumbai and Pune to two & a half to three hours. The first express way in the country, conceived by the Shivsena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray during the first Sena-BJP government (1995–99), had brought the transformation of Pune from sleepy town of retirees to the vibrant megapolis of education institutes and service industry (IT). However, traffic congestion was becoming frequent problem in the Ghats, of late, as also the increasing rate of accidents.
 
Therefore, the capacity augmentation has been undertaken under the leadership of Eknath Shinde. 6.5&nbsp;km long road between Khalapur-Khopoli interchange will be expanded to 8 lanes and a 10&nbsp;km tunnel will be built between [[Khopoli]] exit and Kusgaon (Sinhgad Organization). The total length of this project is 19.80&nbsp;km which would remove the ghat section, reduce the travel time by 20–25 minutes, eliminate the traffic congestion that presently take place in the Ghat section and also reduce the accidents. The work on this 6700 crores project is in full swing.
 
*'''Bandra-Versova Sea Link:'''
 
[[Bandra]]-Versova sea link is an important component of the Coastal Highway project planned on the west coast of Mumbai. Originally part of the multiple sea-links on the west coast, it was later included in the coastal project, envisaged by the Shivsena Party Chief [[Uddhav Thackeray]]. This 9&nbsp;km long cable-stayed bridge will be completed by April 2024.
 
*'''Third Creek bridge at Vashi :'''
 
Sion-Panvel 10-way road is One of the busiest traffic route connected to Mumbai-Pune highway, which is reduced to just 6 lanes at Vashi creek bridge leading to heavy traffic congestion. Therefore, a third bridge parallel to the existing two bridges on the creek has been planned. to be built at the cost of Rs. 775 crores, the project has been received approval from Maharashtra Maritime Board, Railways, State CRZ and Wildlife Board. Approval of forest department for mangroves forest site is in progress and the total construction period is 3 years from the beginning of the work.
 
*'''Thane-Borivali Subway:'''
 
It takes minimum one to one and half hours to travel to Borivali from Thane by Ghodbandar Road. Traffic congestion not only wastes time and fuel but also it damages the environment. Therefore, Eknath Shinde presented the concept of Thane-Borivali Subway as an alternate route.
Due to this 11&nbsp;km road, the distance from Thane to Borivali can be crossed in just 10 minutes and traffic on Ghodbandar road will be reduced. Also, it will save time and fuel and reduce the pollution as well. Under this project, a 10&nbsp;km tunnel will be constructed which start from Tikujiniwadi in Thane. Detailed project report of this project of approximately 8,500 crores is in the final stage.
 
*'''Shil-Kalyan Road Expansion:'''
 
Shil-Kalyan-Bhivandi is a very important road in the MMR region. Heavy vehicles transport from JNPT to Anhemdabad and Nashik, this route is inadequate to the current traffic. Therefore, it was decided to make this a 6-way road. This work will be done in 2 stages. To increase the life of road instead of traditional tarmac process concreting method will be used for new 6 lane roads, addition to that there will be flyovers at Manpada, Sonarpada and Badalapur junction. Work is expected to be completed by February 2021.
 
*'''Thane-Ghodbandar Unnat(Elevated) Road:'''
 
Ghodbandar Road is an important way which connects to Mumbai-Ahembdabad and Mumbai-Agra National Highways. But, due to Fountain Hotel to Gaymukh is only 4-way road, it has a huge traffic congestion problem. Since this area is under the authority of Forest Department, the option of advanced route was adopted considering the limitations of road widening. With the acquisition of the Forest Department, work on this project of about Rs. 700 crores will begin.
 
==Various measures to reduce accident on Mumbai-Pune speeding route==
{{BLP unsourced section|date=November 2019}}
*Placed metal beam crash barriers and wire rope barriers along the road and in the centre.
*Thermoplastic paint all over the highway and the Rambler where necessary.
*Over two thousand highlighted suggestions boards.
*Increased patrols through the Delta Force.
*CCTV and speed gun measures to ensure compliance with the speed limit.
*As a result, the accident was reduced. There were 151 casualties in the accident in 2016, the number was reduced to 110 in 2018.
*Implementation of the 'Zero Fitness Corridor' scheme in collaboration with the Save Life Foundation to reduce this ratio to zero.
*The Trauma Care Centre recently opened in Ozarde. Therefore, immediate help is available to the casualties.
*Similarly, protective nets, rock bolting and other measures were taken to ensure that the cracks do not fall off.
 
==Minister of Health==
{{BLP unsourced section|date=November 2019}}
Uddhav Thackeray handed over the responsibility of Health Minister to Eknath Shinde in January 2019, seeing his efficiency and aggression towards work. He received a maximum of seven to eight months as Health Minister. But, in such a short period of time, he made scathing decisions and put in place many pending subjects and tried to strengthen the Public Health System as well. He filled 890 positions of MBBS Doctors and Specialists. The demand for regularization of BAMS doctors, who are serving on contract basis through health teams in Countryside, Inaccessible remote areas and tribal regions was delayed for 10 years. Eknath Shinde decided to regularise these 738 doctors. Under the National Health Scheme, about 34000 contract workers in the state were serving poorly. Eknath shinde decided to pay them by the Minimum Wage Law. As per the law, now every contract worker has a salary of Rs. 15600 at least. He Raised the salaries of those who serve in the corners of the State.
Eknath Shinde speeded up the procedure of starting up the dialysis centres in Sub-District hospitals by buying 102 dialysis machines to provide the convenience in the countryside and also speeded up the process of converting health centers into wellness centers. 1100 wellness centers are executed till date. The center has approved to convert More 5200 sub-centers into wellness centers. Through the doctors there will be immediate medical treatment for maternal and child health issues, teeth, eyes, diabetes, blood pressure and other diseases.
Melghat pattern was created to reduce malnutrition. As Health Minister, Eknath Shinde, along with the entire health system, made a two-day visit to Melghat.
Officers of the Tribal Development and Women and Child Development Department were also with him. For the first time in the history of the state, all such systems have come together to formulate a plan for malnutrition and have begun implementation.
In order to get free treatment for poor patients, ‘Balasaheb Thackeray Aapla Dawakhana’, the scheme started with the concept of Eknath Shinde and the Central Government has approved 60 dispensaries.
Also, the project has started by Eknath Shinde as Health Minister for the redevelopment of Thane District General Hospital.  
Also, a Mahavir Jain Hospital was started at Hajuri in Thane by a joint venture with the Thane Municipality and Jito, a service organization. It also introduced Cathlab and dialysis facilities. Eknath Shinde's contribution to the health index is the third largest state in the recent rankings announced by the NITI Aayog.
 
==After Anand Dighe ==
{{BLP unsourced section|date=November 2019}}
After the sudden demise of the then Thane district chief of Shiv Sena, Shri Anand Dighe, Shiv Sena seemed to lose its way in Thane. That is when Eknath Shinde stepped in and worked hard to save Shiv Sena in the district. He created confidence among shiv sainiks who were in search of new leadership. He became a great source of inspiration for them. His role in holding together the party in the district earned him the post of Thane district chief. He strengthened Shiv Sena in the whole Thane district in following years. Under the leadership of Eknath Shinde, Shiv Sena got power in Thane Municipal Corporation, Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation, Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation, Bhiwandi Municipal Corporation, Ambarnath Municipal Council, Badlapur Municipal Council as well. He was also instrumental in winning the Thane Zilla Parishad for the first time ever for Shiv Sena.


==References==
==References==
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Latest revision as of 13:28, 14 March 2023


Eknath Shinde
Eknath Rao Shinde
20th Chief Minister of Maharashtra
Assumed office
30 June 2022 (2022-06-30)
Governor
DeputyDevendra Fadnavis
Preceded byUddhav Thackeray
Additional Ministries
Assumed office
14 August 2022
Governor
Ministry and Departments

Other departments not allocated to any Minister.

Preceded by

(All Other Departments)

Leader of the House of the
Maharashtra Legislative Assembly
Assumed office
03 July 2022
Governor
Speaker of the House
Deputy LeaderDevendra Fadnavis
Preceded byUddhav Thackeray
Cabinet Minister
Government of Maharashtra
In office
28 November 2019 – 27 June 2022
Minister
GovernorBhagat Singh Koshyari
Chief MinisterUddhav Thackeray
Deputy CMAjit Pawar
Succeeded bySubhash Desai
In office
5 December 2014 – 12 November 2019
Minister
  • Public Works (including Public Undertakings)
  • Public Health and Family Welfare
Governor
Chief MinisterDevendra Fadnavis
Succeeded by
25th Leader of the Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly
In office
12 November 2014 – 5 December 2014
Governor
Chief MinisterDevendra Fadnavis
Preceded byEknath Khadse
Succeeded byRadhakrishna Vikhe Patil
Member of Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra[1]
Assumed office
2009
Preceded byConstituency Established
ConstituencyKopri-Pachpakhadi
In office
2004–2009
Preceded byMoreshwar Joshi
Succeeded byRajan Vichare
ConstituencyThane
Chairperson of Shiv Sena
Assumed office
17 February 2023
Preceded byVacant
Chairperson of Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena
In office
10 October 2022 – 17 February 2023
Preceded byPosition Established
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Personal details
Born
Eknath Sambhaji Shinde

(1964-02-09) 9 February 1964 (age 62)
Dare, Maharashtra, India
NationalityIndian
Political partyShiv Sena (before 10 October 2022 and 17 February 2023-present)
Other political
affiliations
Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena (2022-2023)
Spouse(s)Lata Eknath Shinde
ChildrenShrikant Shinde
Parent(s)Sambhaji Shinde
Alma materYashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University, Nashik (BA)
OccupationPolitician

Eknath Sambhaji Shinde (pronunciation: [eknaːt̪ʰ ʃin̪d̪e]; born 9 February 1964[2]) is an Indian politician currently serving as the 20th and current Chief Minister of Maharashtra since 30 June 2022. He is also serving as the Chairman of Shiv Sena[3] since 18 February 2023.[4] He was earlier the Cabinet Minister of Urban Development and Public Works (Public Undertakings) in the Cabinet of Uddhav Thackeray from 2019 to 2022.[5][6][7][8] He is a Member of Legislative Assembly from Kopri-Pachpakhadi constituency of Thane, Maharashtra since 2009.[9][10][1]

Early life[edit | edit source]

Eknath Shinde hails from the Dare Village, Jawali taluka in Satara, Maharashtra, and belongs to the Maratha community.[11] His family moved to Thane (in the Mumbai outskirts) to earn a living. Eknath studied till 11th standard at Mangala High School & Junior College, Thane.[12] Shinde left education in early years to support his family, however, he resumed his education in 2014 after joining the government ministry. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University in 2020 with a score of 77.25% .[13][14][15]

Shinde used to drive an autorickshaw to support his family before entering politics.[16]

Political career[edit | edit source]

Shinde was introduced to politics by then Thane Shivsena President Anand Dighe in early 1980.[17] Shinde became successor to Dighe's legacy after his death in 2001.[18] He has been elected as Member of Legislative Assembly since 2004 for four consecutive terms.

Position held[edit | edit source]

Thane Municipal Corporation[edit | edit source]

  • 1997 : Elected to the Thane Municipal Corporation as a corporator for the first time
  • 2001 : Elected to the post of the leader of the house in Thane Municipal Corporation.[19]
  • 2002 : Elected to the Thane Municipal Corporation for the second time

Maharashtra Legislative Assembly & ministries[edit | edit source]

  • 2004 : Elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for the first time
  • 2005 : Appointed as the Thane district head of Shiv Sena. First MLA to have been appointed at such a coveted post in the party
  • 2009 : Elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for the 2nd time [1]
  • 2014 : Elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for the 3rd time[1][20]
    • October 2014 - December 2014: Leader of opposition Maharashtra Legislative Assembly** 2014 - 2019: Cabinet Minister of PWD (PU) in Maharashtra State Government[19]
    • 2014 - 2019: Appointed as the guardian minister of Thane District
    • 2018 : Appointed as a Leader of Shiv Sena Party [21]
    • 2019 : Cabinet Minister of Public Health and Family Welfare (Marathi: सार्वजनिक आरोग्य आणि कुटुंब कल्याण) in Maharashtra State Government [8]
  • 2019 : Elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for the fourth consecutive time
    • 2019 : Appointed as the minister of Urban Development and Public Works (Public Undertakings)[5]
    • 2019 : Appointed as the Minister of Home Affairs (Acting) (28 November 2019 - 30 December 2019)
  • 2020 : Appointed as the guardian minister of Thane district[22]

Chief Minister[edit | edit source]

Role in 2022 Maharashtra political crisis[edit | edit source]

Shinde was in favor of breaking the Maha Vikas Aghadi and reestablishing alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party.[24] He requested Uddhav Thackeray to break the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance due to ideological differences and unfair treatment by Congress Party and NCP.[25] His fellow Shiv Sena members said that their complaints were ignored by Uddhav Thackeray and Uddhav favored Congress Party and NCP over his own Shiv Sena members.[26][27] Shinde gathered 2/3rd members from his party to support his request.[28] The crisis began on 21 June 2022 when Shinde and several other MLAs of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition moved to Surat in BJP-governed Gujarat, throwing the coalition into a chaos.[29][30][31] As a result of Shinde's revolt, Uddhav Thackeray resigned from the post of Chief Minister of Maharashtra and said that he will also resign from the Maharashtra Legislative Council.[32][33] Shinde successfully reestablished alliance with BJP and was sworn in as the 20th Chief Minister, with Bharatiya Janata Party's Devendra Fadnavis as the Deputy Chief Minister.[34][35]

Shiv Sena leadership dispute[edit | edit source]

After Eknath Shinde established the government, he started using the Shiv Sena name and symbols without Uddhav Thackrey. This created issues as Uddhav also claimed to be the leader of Shiv Sena. Uddhav's faction challenged this in court, which was eventually moved to the Election Commission of India. The Commission recognized Eknath Shinde's faction as the real Shiv Sena party, which ended the leadership dispute.[36] The Election Commission also found the changes made to the Shiv Sena party constitution in 2018, under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray, to be undemocratic. The amendments centralized the party's control and were criticized for not allowing free, fair, and transparent elections for the party positions.[37]

Personal life[edit | edit source]

Shinde is married to Lata Shinde.[38]

On 2 June 2000, their son Dipesh (aged 11) and daughter Shubhada (aged 7) went boating in a lake near their native village in Maharashtra. The boat overturned and both the children died by drowning. Shinde went into depression for several months. Anand Dighe provided emotional support to Shinde and entrusted him with greater responsibility in order to keep his mind occupied and away from depression.[39]

Their surviving child, Shrikant Shinde, is an orthopaedic surgeon who has also been the elected Member of Parliament to the Lok Sabha from the Kalyan constituency since 2014 (re-elected in 2019).[40]

Popular culture[edit | edit source]

Dharmaveer, a 2022 Indian Marathi-language biographical drama film by Pravin Tarde, covered Anand Dighe and Eknath Shinde's life.[41][42] Kshitij Date played the role of Eknath Shinde.[43] Eknath Shinde has a starring role in Dharmaveer as one of Dighe’s most loyal foot soldiers.[44]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Sitting and previous MLAs from Kopri-Pachpakhadi Assembly Constituency". elections.in.
  2. "Watch: Who is Eknath Shinde? All you need to know about former auto driver on collision course with Shiv Sena leadership". Free Press Journal.
  3. "एकनाथ शिंदे को शिवसेना मुख्य नेता, राष्ट्रीय कार्यकारिणी की बैठक में हुआ फैसला". News18 हिंदी (in हिन्दी). 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  4. "Eknath Shinde takes oath as Maharashtra CM, Devendra Fadnavis as his deputy". Hindustan Times. 30 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Maharashtra Cabinet portfolios announced: Dy CM Ajit Pawar gets finance and economy, Aaditya Thackeray allotted tourism and environment ministry-Politics News, Firstpost". Firstpost. 5 January 2020.
  6. टीम, एबीपी माझा, वेब (5 January 2020). "मंत्रिमंडळ खातेवाटपाला राज्यपालांची मंजुरी, अधिकृत खातेवाटप जाहीर". marathi.abplive.com (in मराठी).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. "Eknath Shinde is a minister in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly". Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  8. 8.0 8.1 "महाराष्ट्र शासन सार्वजनिक आरोग्य विभाग".
  9. "Eknath Sambhaji Shinde of S WINS the Kopri-pachpakhadi constituency | Maharastra & [He is also the president of Shiv Sena] Maharastra Assembly Election 2014". NewsReporter.in. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  10. "Maharashtra state Assembly Election - Constituency Wise Result". rediff.com. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  11. "Eknath Shinde Caste: एकनाथ शिंदे की जाति क्या है? इंटरनेट पर क्यों हो रहा सर्च, जानिए". Navbharat Times (in हिन्दी).
  12. "Eknath Sambhaji Shinde(SHS):Constituency- Kopri - Panchpakhadi(e-THANE)". Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  13. "Maharashtra Minister Eknath Shinde a Degree Holder Now, Tweets Lok Sabha MP Son". News18. 17 November 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  14. "Who is Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde and how did he rise through the ranks?". Hindustan Times. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  15. Desk, India com News. "Who is Eknath Shinde, Maharashtra's New Chief Minister?". www.india.com. Retrieved 7 July 2022. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  16. "Man of the moment: Who is Eknath Shinde, Shiv Sena strongman who pushed MVA to brink of collapse?". Financialexpress. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  17. "Eknath Shinde: From Thane auto driver to Shiv Sena's top leader, all about him". Zee News. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  18. "Parallel lives: Shinde mentor Anand Dighe, Sena strongman and a thorn in Bal Thackeray's side". The Indian Express. 25 June 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  19. 19.0 19.1 Kulkarni, Dhaval (21 June 2022). "Eknath Shinde: From a seat at head table to chief of rebellion". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  20. "Eknath Shinde tops popularity charts". Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  21. "आदित्य ठाकरेंची सेनेच्या नेतेपदी वर्णी, मनोहर जोशी, सुधीर जोशीही पदावर कायम" (in मराठी).
  22. "2020: Maharashtra govt appoints guardian ministers for all 36 districts".
  23. "Eknath Shinde will be sworn in as Maharashtra chief minister: Devendra Fadnavis". Telangana Today. 30 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  24. "'Want to save Shiv Sena from python MVA,' says Eknath Shinde". Firstpost. 25 June 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  25. Marpakwar, Chaitanya (22 June 2022). "Maharashtra MVA crisis: What made Eknath Shinde turn against Shiv Sena". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  26. "Uddhav Thackeray Left 52 Sena MLAs, His Home, But Not Sharad Pawar: Rebels". NDTV.com. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  27. Choudhari, Abhishek (24 June 2022). "Ramtek Ind MLA joins rebel Sena group, says CM ignored his plaints". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  28. "Maharashtra crisis: Uddhav Thackeray-led faction in hopeless minority within party, Eknath Shinde to SC". The Times of India. PTI. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  29. Singh, Darpan (21 June 2022). "Maharashtra political crisis: Why MVA coalition has always looked fragile". India Today. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  30. Karthikeyan, Suchitra (22 June 2022). "Maharashtra Political Crisis: MVA slides into minority; here's how the numbers stand". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  31. "What's next in the Maharashtra political crisis? Decoding the future of the MVA alliance". Firstpost. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  32. "'Don't want to play these games. I resign': Uddhav Thackeray ahead of trust vote". Hindustan Times. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  33. "You have brought down Balasaheb's son: Uddhav Thackeray resigns as Maharashtra CM". India Today. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  34. "Maharashtra political crisis Live Updates: PM Modi congratulates Shinde, Fadnavis on becoming CM, Dy CM". The Indian Express. 30 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  35. "Fadnavis's masterstroke: Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde to be next Maharashtra CM, move corners Uddhav further". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  36. "EC recognises Eknath Shinde faction as real Shiv Sena, allots it 'bow and arrow' symbol". The Times of India. 17 February 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  37. "Uddhav Thackeray Loses Name, Symbol Of Shiv Sena Founded By Father". NDTV.com. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  38. "Eknath Shinde's Wife, Lata's Major Role In His Success From Being An Auto Driver To Maharashtra's CM". BollywoodShaadis. 1 July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  39. "eknath shinde: When my two children were in an accident, Anand Dighe Saheb raised me again: Eknath Shinde – my two kids died in an accident after that anand dighe gave support to me says shiv sena leader". 7 May 2022.
  40. "Congress-NCP wiped out in Mumbai; Priya Dutt, Milind Deora lose". Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  41. "Marathi flick 'Dharmaveer' puts spotlight on Eknath Shinde's rising say in Shiv Sena politics". The Indian Express. 3 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  42. "ZEE5 announces the release of Anand Dighe's biopic 'Dharmaveer'". The Statesman. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  43. "'The Scope on Their Work...': Kshitish Date on Playing Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde". News18. 6 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  44. "Eknath Shinde has a starring role in Dharmaveer". Scroll.in. Nandini Ramnath. Retrieved 2 September 2022.

External links[edit | edit source]

Political offices
Preceded by
Jaydatta Kshirsagar
Cabinet Minister for Public Works (Undertakings);
Maharashtra State

December 2014 – June 2022
Incumbent
Preceded by
Ganesh Naik
Maharashtra State Guardian Minister for Thane district
December 2014 – present
Incumbent