From auto rickshaw driver to Maharashtra CM: The Eknath Shinde journey

Eknath Shinde, born on February 9, 1964, in Dare village, Satara, Maharashtra, moved to Thane with his family where he grew up. Forced to leave school after class 11 to support his family, Shinde worked as an auto-rickshaw driver before entering politics.

Despite his early struggles, he resumed his studies in 2014 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2020 from Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University.

In the early 1980s, Shinde was introduced to politics by Anand Dighe, the Shiv Sena President in Thane. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a prominent labour leader in the Wagle Estate area.

Elected as a corporator in 1997, he ascended to the role of Leader of the House in 2001. After Dighe’s death, Shinde became his political heir and continued to expand his influence within the Shiv Sena.

Shinde first entered the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in 2004, eventually serving as the Thane district head of Shiv Sena. He was elected to the Assembly in 2009, 2014, and 2019.

Shinde held various key positions, including Minister for Public Works from 2014 to 2019, and later, Minister of Urban Development and Public Health.

In 2022, Shinde led a revolt against Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership of the Shiv Sena, citing ideological differences within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.

Shinde's rebellion succeeded in ousting Thackeray, with Shinde forming a new government in alliance with the BJP. Shinde became the 20th Chief Minister of Maharashtra in June 2022.

Eknath Shinde is married to Lata Shinde, and their son, Shrikant Shinde, has been an orthopaedic surgeon and Member of Parliament for Kalyan since 2014.