When Eknath Shinde saved a child’s life during 1989 Mumbai riots

While Eknath Shinde promised to serve the people of the state today, his neighbours from his chawl days claim that he has always been a saviour.

Eknath Shinde took oath as Maharashtra Chief Minister today with BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister. While Shinde promised to serve the people of the state today, his neighbours from his chawl days claim that he has always been a savior.

While talking to India Today, the neighbours of the newly appointed chief minister of Maharashtra, when he lived in a chawl, said that Shinde came from a humble background and lived in a chawl in Thane for over 35 years.

One of the neighbours described an incident when Eknath Shinde helped a woman and his child during the Bombay riots in 1989. As there were no modes of transportation available during the riots in the area, Shinde drove an auto rickshaw to take the child and his mother to the hospital. The neighbour added that Shinde drove the auto rickshaw himself at night from his chawl to the hospital.

Praising Shinde’s loyalty and dedication, one of the neighbours said, “Shinde hardly sleeps and he is always up for helping people. The level of dedication and loyalty that he shows is commendable.”

The announcement of Eknath Shinde being the next chief minister of Maharashtra came shortly after Fadnavis and Shinde went to meet Governor BS Koshyari at Raj Bhavan to stake a claim to form the government. Uddhav Thackeray had resigned from the chief minister's post shortly after the Supreme Court refused to stay the floor test order on Wednesday.