From Auto Rickshaw Driver To Maharashtra Chief Minister: The Eknath Shinde Story

Eknath Shinde's political journey began in the early 1980s when he was introduced to politics by Anand Dighe, the then Thane Shiv Sena President. 

On a tense night in 1989 in Mumbai, a mother and a child had to visit a hospital. There were restrictions on the roads due to violence in the area. With no transport available, a young auto-rickshaw driver, who lived in a chawl, drove the duo to the hospital. It's a story etched in the memory of the neighbourhood where the auto-driver is believed to have spent decades of his life. 

Thirty-three years after risking his life that night, the man, Eknath Shinde, was sworn in as the 20th Chief Minister of Maharashtra. His wasn't a meteoric rise. But when his moment came in July 2022, Mr Shinde seized it, successfully leading a rebellion against what was considered a stable Maha Vikas Agadhi government under Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray.  

Early Life And Education