Uddhav Thackeray could have offered CM post to Eknath Shinde to save government: Congress

Congress leaders and ministers feel that the Maha Vikas Aghadi government could have been saved had Sena president Uddhav Thackeray handled the rebellion deftly. Sources said the Congress leaders were peeved over several decisions taken by Thackeray to handle the crisis, from resigning instead of facing a trust vote to not offering Eknath Shinde the CM's post.

"A senior Cabinet minister had strongly advised Uddhav to resign as chief minister and announce Eknath Shinde as the next chief minister. The suggestion was given as there was talk initially that the rebellion would fizzle. But, with each passing day more ministers and MLAs were joining the Shinde camp," said a Congress source.

The other suggestion given by the Congress minister was to have the Congress and NCP support the government from outside.

Prior to resigning, Uddhav Thackeray, while addressing the state, did speak about one of the Congress proposals to support the government from outside as a sort of compromise to get Shinde back. He attributed the suggestion to Congress leader Ashok Chavan.