Rebel Shiv Sena MLAs broke into a dance at a Goa hotel after Eknath Shinde was named the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra. The video of the celebrations has gone viral on social media. 

Shinde arrived in Mumbai earlier on Thursday while the MLAs of his faction stayed back in Goa where they had landed from Guwahati a day earlier. As soon as BJP leader and the Leader of the Opposition Devendra Fadnavis announced Shinde as the new CM of the state, the ministers started celebrating in what appeared to be a banquet hall while watching the news on a giant television. Some of them also climbed onto tables.

Shinde returned to a luxury hotel in Goa in the wee hours of Friday after taking oath for the top post and was given warm welcome by the MLAs. Some of them hugged the new CM and raised slogans in his support. They also raised slogans hailing Sena founder Bal Thackeray and late party leader Anand Dighe. A few women legislators welcomed him with traditional rituals.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who was also at the hotel when Shinde arrived, offered a bouquet of flowers to congratulate the latter. A video of the welcome given by the MLAs has also gone viral on social media.

Interacting with reporters at the Goa Airport, Shinde said Maharashtra could see this day because of his 50 MLAs.

“My colleagues and entire Maharashtra is happy that Balasaheb Thackeray’s Shiv Sainik has become the chief minister of the state,” Shinde commented.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray extended best wishes to Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

“Best wishes to newly appointed Chief minister @mieknathshinde ji and Deputy Chief minister @Dev_Fadnavis ji. I wish you do a good job for Maharashtra,” Thackeray tweeted in Marathi.