As Mahayuti Stakes Claim, Eknath Shinde's 'Morning-Evening' Dig At Ajit Pawar

Eknath Shinde was referring to 2019, when Mr Pawar had taken oath as the deputy chief minister in an early morning ceremony and the government had lasted just three days.

A press conference in which Devendra Fadnavis announced that he would take oath as the Maharashtra chief minister at 5.30 pm on Thursday, capping days of speculation, also served as the stage for some banter between allies, with Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde taking a light-hearted dig at NCP President Ajit Pawar. 

Refusing to clear the air on whether he would take up the post of deputy chief minister under Devendra Fadnavis after being seen as a claimant for the top job, a visibly exasperated Mr Shinde said during the press conference on Wednesday that he would let people know later. 

When Mr Pawar interjected to say that he would definitely take oath as one of the deputy chief ministers and nothing would stop him, eliciting laughter, Mr Shinde quipped, clapping his hands:  "Dada ko anubhav hai, subah bhi lene ka aur shaam ko bhi lene ka (He has experience taking oath in the morning and the evening)."