MUMBAI: CM Eknath Shinde has actually emerged more powerful than ever following the Election Commission of Indias decision in the political sensitive Shiv Sena name and symbol case.

Former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said the very day Devendra Fadnavis accepted the deputy chief ministers post under management of Shinde, it was validated that the BJP management had scaled down Fadnavis.

Shinde has actually won the first fight, but the litmus test will be in the Supreme Court when it takes up the problem of disqualification of Shinde faction lawmakers for defying the party whip.

If the pinnacle court accepts the plea of the Uddhav Thackeray faction, it will be big blow for both Shinde and Fadnavis, Chavan stated.

While a Shiv Sena (UBT) leader stated that the genuine obstacle for Fadnavis now will be from none besides Shinde, BJP leader and medical education minister Girish Mahajan stated it would be wrong to state that Shindes development is at the expense of Fadnavis.

In my opinion, both Shinde and Fadnavis have become effective following the EC decision.

Our government has actually ended up being more effective and steady, while the Maha Vikas Aghadi has been disposed.

It has actually now become unimportant, Mahajan said.

Mahajan said Uddhav Thackeray committed a series of political blunders and in fact, it was political suicide, he has ruined the political careers of a number of promising leaders.

Now, it is time for Uddhav Thackeray to end up his Shiv Sena since in the wake of the EC decision, it has no legal status.

The Sena (UBT) leader admitted that the EC verdict had brought substantial political gains for Shinde.

BJP had actually expected that in the days to come, Shinde would merge his faction with the BJP so that Fadnavis became more powerful.

Now in view of the EC order, Shinde is head of the Shiv Sena, and there is no requirement for him to combine his group with the BJP, he said.

The Sena (UBT) leader pointed out, Prima facie, it appears that in the recent past, Shinde has actually gotten the confidence of both prime minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah, he has moved very near to them.

Following the landmark EC order, Shinde is securely in the saddle and will lead in the 2024 assembly and Lok Sabha elections.