Eknath shinde is an Indian politician currently serving as the 20th and current Chief Minister of Maharashtra since 30 June 2022. He is also serving as the Chairman of Shiv Sena since 18 February 2023. He was earlier the Cabinet Minister of Urban Development and Public Works (Public Undertakings) in the Cabinet of Uddhav Thackeray from 2019 to 2022. He is a Member of Legislative Assembly from Kopri-Pachpakhadi constituency of Thane, Maharashtra since 2009.

Early Life

Eknath Shinde hails from the Dare Village, Jawali taluka in Satara, Maharashtra, and belongs to the Maratha community. His family moved to Thane (in the Mumbai outskirts) to earn a living. Eknath studied till 11th standard at Mangala High School & Junior College, Thane. Shinde left education in early years to support his family, however, he resumed his education in 2014 after joining the government ministry. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University in 2020 with a score of 77.25%.

Eknath Shinde was awarded D.Litt. (Doctor of Literature) by D Y Patil University at the convocation of the university in Navi Mumbai on 28 March 2023, at the hands of Maharashtra governor Ramesh Bais and University chancellor Dr Vijay Patil.

Shinde used to drive an autorickshaw to support his family before entering politics.

Political Career

Shinde was introduced to politics by then Thane Shivsena President Anand Dighe in early 1980. Shinde became successor to Dighe's legacy after his death in 2001. He has been elected as Member of Legislative Assembly since 2004 for four consecutive terms.

Position held

Thane Municipal Corporation

1997 : Elected to the Thane Municipal Corporation as a corporator for the first time
2001 : Elected to the post of the leader of the house in Thane Municipal Corporation.
2002 : Elected to the Thane Municipal Corporation for the second time

Maharashtra Legislative assembly and ministries

2004 : Elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for the first time
2005 : Appointed as the Thane district head of Shiv Sena. First MLA to have been appointed at such a coveted post in the party.
2009 : Elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for the 2nd time.
2014 : Elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for the 3rd time.

October 2014 - December 2014: Leader of opposition Maharashtra Legislative Assembly** 2014 - 2019: Cabinet Minister of PWD (PU) in Maharashtra State Government
2014 - 2019: Appointed as the guardian minister of Thane District
2018 : Appointed as a Leader of Shiv Sena Party 
2019 : Cabinet Minister of Public Health and Family Welfare in Maharashtra State Government 
2019 : Elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for the fourth consecutive time

2019 : Appointed as the minister of Urban Development and Public Works (Public Undertakings)
2019 : Appointed as the Minister of Home Affairs (Acting) (28 November 2019 - 30 December 2019)
2020 : Appointed as the guardian minister of Thane district.

Chief Minister

2022 : Appointed as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra by Governor of Maharashtra.

Personal Life

Shinde is married to Lata Shinde.

On 2 June 2000, their son Dipesh (aged 11) and daughter Shubhada (aged 7) went boating in a lake near their native village in Maharashtra. The boat overturned and both the children died by drowning. Shinde went into depression for several months. Anand Dighe provided emotional support to Shinde and entrusted him with greater responsibility in order to keep his mind occupied and away from depression.

Their surviving child, Shrikant Shinde, is an orthopaedic surgeon who has also been the elected Member of Parliament to the Lok Sabha from the Kalyan constituency since 2014 (re-elected in 2019).

Popular Culture

Dharmaveer a 2022 Indian Marathi-language biographical drama film by Pravin Tarde, covered Anand Dighe and Eknath Shinde's life. Kshitij Date played the role of Eknath Shinde. Eknath Shinde has a starring role in Dharmaveer as one of Dighe’s most loyal foot soldiers.