Eknath Shinde

Shiv Sena (Shinde)

DOB 09 Feb 1964

Age 61 years

birth palce Satara, Maharashtra

profession Politician

Eknath Shinde biography

After governing as Maharashtra’s Chief Minister for the last two-and-a-half years, Shiv Sena Leader Eknath Shinde has had to swallow what is likely to be a bitter pill of accepting the post of Deputy CM in the new government that Devendra Fadnavis is set to helm.

From working in a beer brewery in Thane and driving an autorickshaw to make ends meet, to becoming the most powerful leader in the present Shiv Sena after the Thackerays, Eknath Shinde, 58, became the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra on July 1, 2022.

In a surprise turn of events, the Shiv Sena rebel leader Shinde was sworn in as the CM and BJP leader and former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as the Deputy Chief Minister.

Shinde became the 20th Chief Minister of the state a day after Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray resigned as CM ahead of a floor test, bringing to an end the 31-month rule of his Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition.

What came as a surprise was the about-turn by Fadnavis. Shortly after he told a press conference that he would not be a part of the government, the central leadership of the party said Fadnavis would be joining the government.

The Shinde family originally belongs to Satara district and moved to Thane in the ’70s when Shinde was just a child. His start was with odd jobs, at places such as a beer brewery and fishery, apart from his stint as an autorickshaw driver, before he began his association with the Shiv Sena in the ’80s.

Shinde soon gained proximity to then Thane district Sena president Anand Dighe, who ran the local unit with an iron fist and was instrumental in making the Shiv Sena a dominant force in the area. As Shinde modelled his appearance too after his mentor, Dighe had rewarded his loyalty with helping him win a seat in the Thane Municipal Corporation in 1997.

Dighe was also there for Shinde when he lost his children to a drowning accident in 2000, which caused him to withdraw into a shell. Dighe is said to have goaded Shinde back, making him the leader of the house in the Thane Municipal Corporation.

After Dighe’s death in August 2001, Shinde filled the void left in the Shiv Sena’s Thane unit. In 2004, he became an MLA, winning the Kopri-Pachpakhadi seat, and has represented the constituency for four consecutive terms.

Since 2019, when the Shiv Sena dumped the BJP to form an unlikely triumvirate with the Congress and NCP to form the government in Maharashtra, there have been constant murmurs about Shinde’s unhappiness with the political arrangement. Many within the Shiv Sena and its allies the Congress and NCP have long feared Shinde to be the weak link as the BJP made constant attacks on the government. The impression has been further strengthened by the BJP sparing Shinde even as it went after all other major MVA leaders.

Eknath Shinde personal life

Spouse

Lata Shinde

Education

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Marathi & Political Science

netWorth

₹11 Crore

News
Photos

EKNATH SHINDE NEWS

In Mumbai, Shinde participated in a grand public yoga session at Marine Drive on International Yoga Day 2025.

Fadnavis, Shinde lead Yoga Day celebrations in Maharashtra

June 21, 2025 10:16 pm

‘Yoga is the soul of India’s cultural heritage and a path to a healthy and joyous life’

Dowry-free Maharashtra, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, Hagawane case, Mumbai

'Every daughter-in-law is my beloved sister': Deputy CM Eknath Shinde launches 'Dowry-Free Maharashtra' campaign

June 20, 2025 12:34 pm

Shinde's announcement comes against the backdrop of the death of Vaishnavi Hagawane in Pune, allegedly due to dowry harassment.

Devendra Fadnavis at Express Adda, Express Adda, Devendra Fadnavis, Devendra Fadnavis government, Ajit Pawar, Eknath Shinde, Mumbai news, Maharashtra news, Indian express, current affairs

Devendra Fadnavis at Express Adda: ‘If the Opposition fights us, we will welcome it. But where are they?’

June 20, 2025 1:33 pm

At a recent Adda held in Mumbai, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis spoke on making governance his priority, tackling corruption, political opportunism and the transformation of Mumbai. The conversation was moderated by Vandita Mishra, National Opinion Editor, The Indian Express and Anant Goenka, Executive Director, The Indian Express Group

59th foundation day of Sena, foundation day of Sena, Eknath Shinde, Uddhav Thackeray, shiv sena, Aaditya Thackeray, Mumbai news, Maharashtra news, Indian express, current affairs

59th foundation day of Sena: Shinde sounds BMC poll bugle, says Uddhav Sena looted Mumbai treasury

June 20, 2025 4:27 am

Slams Aaditya’s 'fight for Mumbai' campaign; launches initiative for dowry-free state

shive Sena UBT, shive Sena UBT Foundation day, Sena UBT Foundation day, Eknath Shinde, Uddhav Thackeray, Mumbai news, Maharashtra news, Indian express, current affairs

Foundation day events by Sena parties set to be show of strength before civic polls

June 12, 2025 12:16 am

The June 19 events are expected to serve as launchpads for the upcoming civic polls — particularly the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, viewed as a litmus test for both parties after the 2022 split.

Setback for Sena (UBT) as 'Kesari' Chandrahar Patil joins Shiv Sena

June 10, 2025 1:33 am

Welcoming Patil into the party, Shinde said, "You have moved from a fake arena (Sena UBT) to the real battleground (Shinde led Sena)"

Eknath Shinde offers seat in chartered flight to kidney transplant patient.

Shinde offers seat in his chartered flight to woman in urgent need of kidney transplant after she misses plane

June 07, 2025 7:48 pm

The incident occurred on Friday at Jalgaon airport, where Shinde had arrived after attending the Sant Muktabai Palkhi departure ceremony in Muktainagar.

Expedite road infra projects across Maharashtra before monsoon: Shinde

May 30, 2025 11:07 pm

After reviewing the Mumbai-Nashik highway, the Deputy Chief Minister instructed that the delayed works on the highway be expedited

As heavy rain lashes Maharashtra, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde urges people to avoid stepping out unless necessary

May 26, 2025 1:24 pm

Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Pune, and Nashik in Maharashtra are currently experiencing heavy rainfall.

On merger of two NCPs: ‘They are already together’ says Raut, targets Sharad Pawar

May 11, 2025 12:35 am

Raut’s remarks came in response to Sharad Pawar’s recent interview to The Indian Express, in which the veteran leader acknowledged internal divisions within his party on the question of reuniting with Ajit Pawar’s faction

EKNATH SHINDE PHOTOS

Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Shehnaaz Gill and others at Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde's Ganpati darshan

September 24, 2023 10:46 pm

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde hosted the who's who of Bollywood for a Ganpati darshan at his residence on Sunday. Scroll to see photos.

'MLAs come, and can go anywhere': NCP chief Sharad Pawar's party meeting in pictures

July 07, 2023 7:42 am

NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar convened a working committee meeting of the party Wednesday which was attended by 16 MLAs and office-bearers of the party’s frontal cells.

Shinde faction wins Shiv Sena party name, symbol; Uddhav camp protests

February 18, 2023 9:24 pm

The ECI Friday recognised Shinde faction as the real Shiv Sena and granted them the permission to use the name 'Shiv Sena' and the bow and arrow symbol for their party.

At first ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ event, PM Modi pays tribute to Guru Gobind Singh’s sons

December 26, 2022 10:28 pm

At first ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ event, PM Modi pays tribute to Guru Gobind Singh’s sons

Maharashtra, Karnataka Assembly sessions begin on stormy notes

December 20, 2022 1:36 pm

Sena vs Sena: Uddhav, Shinde factions hold massive Dussehra rallies in Mumbai

October 06, 2022 11:40 am

Maharashtra celebrates Dahi Handi with pomp and grandeur after pandemic-gap

August 20, 2022 2:41 pm

From auto driver to Shiv Sainik to Maharashtra CM: The journey of Eknath Shinde

July 01, 2022 12:57 pm

Eknath Shinde was sworn in as the 20th Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Thursday, by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.

Will go after other targets if no peace, says Trump as US strikes 3 nuclear sites in Iran

WorldJune 25, 2025

President Donald Trump said that the United States military had struck three nuclear-related facilities in Iran, marking a dramatic escalation in the ongoing conflict and a direct American role in efforts to dismantle Tehran’s infrastructure. The strikes represent the most significant direct US military action against Iranian territory in years and come amid rising regional tensions.

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