Eknath Shinde is an Indian politician. He was born on 9 February 1964 in Satara district, Maharashtra. His zodiac sign is Aquarius. He did his schooling from New English High School, Thane, Mumbai. He earned a graduate degree from Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University, Maharashtra. 

His father’s name is Sambhaji Shinde, and his mother’s name was Gangubai Shinde. 

He is married to Lata Eknath Shinde. They are parents to a son Shrikant Shinde. 

Interesting facts about Eknath Shinde

Before joining politics, Eknath Shinde earned a living as an auto rickshaw driver in Maharashtra. 

In the 1970s and 80s, he was influenced by the work of Shiv Sena leader Balasaheb Thackeray and the then Thane district president Shri Anand Dighe.

 After joining Shiv Sena, he was appointed as the branch chief of Kisan Nagar in the year 1980.

Joining politics

He started participating in many political and social movements initiated by his party, including against inflation, black marketing, hoarding of essential commodities like palm oil by traders, etc.

In the year 1985, he participated in the Maharashtra-Karnataka border movement after which the Maharashtra Police detained him for more than 40 days in Bellary jail, Maharashtra.

In 1997, he was elected councillor for Thane Municipal Corporation for the first time.

Leader of the house

He was appointed as the leader of the house in Thane Municipal Corporation in the year 2001. 

In the year 2004, he was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

From October 2014 to December 2014, he was the Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

Eknath Shinde served as the Cabinet Minister of PWD (PU) in the Maharashtra State Government from 2014 to 2019. 

Leader of Shiv Sena

In December 2019, Shiv Sena appointed him as Health and Family Welfare Minister in addition to Public Works Minister in the BJP-led government in Maharashtra. Apart from this he was given additional responsibility as the Chairman of Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC).

He was appointed as the cabinet minister under the then chairmanship of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in the year 2019. 

In the year 2019, Eknath Shinde was appointed Minister of Urban Development and Public Works.

Eknath Shinde as Maharashtra’s CM

From 28 November 2019 to 30 December 2019, he served as the Home Minister. 

He was sworn in as the 20th Chief Minister of Maharashtra on 30 June 2022. 

Presently, Eknath Shinde has been serving as the current CM of Maharashtra. He is also the leader of Shiv Sena since February 2023.