Taking potshots at the opposition that has accused the BJP of misusing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to form the government with the Shinde Sena, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis countered the jibe in the Assembly on Monday. He said: “Yes, what you say is true… it is an ED government… Eknath-Devendra Government. All these people (MLAs) have come here because of Eknath and Devendra…”

He said he was constantly ridiculed for his poem ‘I will be back’. “See, I have come back and not alone, but with all these people. I want my revenge. But my revenge is to forgive who ridiculed me,” he said, beginning the debate on a confidence motion. “Some people thought that what we do is only for seizing power, but Modi ji has shown that power is not important. The PM told us that we should respect the public mandate by making the follower of Balasaheb Thackeray’s Hindutva the CM. I would have sat at home if I was asked by the party. I tell you very clearly that I’m standing in support of Shinde and ensuring his success.”