In his first speech as Maharashtra’s chief minister on Monday, Eknath Shinde teared up as he spoke about the death of his children. 

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When reflecting on the day of the incident, Shinde said, “While I was working as a Shiv Sena Corporator in Thane, I lost 2 of my children and thought everything is over.”

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In 2000, a boating accident in Shinde’s native town of Dare Tarfe Taam in Western Maharashtra claimed the lives of his two young children. When the boat capsized, his daughter Shubhada, 7, and son Dipesh, 11, both drowned. According to reports, Shinde mourned his children for a very long period.

When talking about his parents and children, he stated- “They attacked my family…My father is alive, my mother died. I could not give much time to my parents. They would be asleep when I came and would go to work when I slept. I could not give much time to my son Shrikant. My two children died – at the time, Anand Dighe consoled me. I used to think, what is there to live for? I will stay with my family,” Eknath Shinde said.

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He received consolation from his mentor, Shiv Sena leader Anand Dighe, who appointed him head of House in the Thane civic corporation and urged him to adopt the entire society as his family. At the time, Shinde was working as a corporator. Later, in 2004, Shinde became an MLA for the first time.

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The MVA government, commanded by Uddhav Thackeray, was overthrown as a result of Shinde’s rebellion last month alongside certain Shiv Sena MLAs.

With 164 MLAs voting in favour of the motion and 99 against it, Shinde won the trust vote in the 288-member House and took oath of office as chief minister with Devendra Fadnavis serving as his deputy on June 30.