Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who took power last week with the BJP's support after leading a successful coup in the Shiv Sena against former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, stressed that his rebellion was over ideological differences with alliance partners in the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi government. "I didn't take this decision to become Chief Minister," the 58-year-old told NDTV in an exclusive interview ahead of a test of majority that is mostly a formality. "I never demanded the Chief Minister's post. It was a matter of ideology, of Balasaheb (Thackeray's) Hindutva. Party workers were very upset with the Maha Vikas Aghadi. MLAs were upset too. They couldn't do any development work because of the internal problems in coalition," Mr Shinde said. The BJP, he added, showed its "big heart" by offering the Chief Minister's post to him.
