Rebel Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde will become the new Maharashtra Chief Minister with the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), announced Devendra Fadnavis Thursday.

“Eknath Shinde will become the Chief Minister,” said Fadnavis, a former Chief Minister and a BJP leader, at a press conference.

Shinde will take oath as the Chief Minister at 7:30 pm Thursday, said Fadnavis.

Shinde’s rebellion with 40 odd MLAs had led to the uninstallation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government with Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray stepping down as the Chief Minister Wednesday night.

Uddhav Thackeray resigns following rebellion

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray resigned on Wednesday, minutes after the Supreme Court allowed the floor test to prove his government’s majority.

“We respect the Supreme Court judgment. Democracy must be followed,” Thackeray said in an online address after which left for the Governor’s residence to hand over his resignation.

“I am resigning as Chief Minister. I don’t want a hand in the blood of Shiv Sainiks that may be spilled tomorrow. Those whom we promoted and built up, they are the ones who have betrayed us,” an emotional Thackeray said.

Thackeray said he was also quitting as a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council.

“I came to power unexpectedly and I’m exiting in a similar fashion. Sena is one family, will not let it be pulled apart. I am not going anywhere, I will gather all our supporters, we will recoup,” he pleged.

The Thackeray team reduced to just about 15 MLAs, had asked the court to stop the floor test called Thursday by the Governor of the state.