Shiv Sena rebel leader Eknath Shinde will be the chief minister of Maharashtra.

This latest surprise in the saga of events that led to Uddhav Thackeray's resignation, was reported by ndtv.com which also revealed that the swearing in of the new chief minister will take place at 7:30 pm on Thursday evening.

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The dramatic announcement came after Fadnavis and Shinde met Governor B S Koshyari at Raj Bhavan.

It was considered a foregone conclusion that Fadnavis will become the CM for the third time, in alliance with the Shinde-led Sena rebels.

Fadnavis said Shinde will be sworn in as CM at Raj Bhavan at 7.30 pm on Thursday.

Fadnavis could have become CM going by the numbers but he showed a big heart and I thank him, said Shinde.

And he added, "The new government in Maharashtra will get the backing of PM Modi, Amit Shah and J P Nadda."

Meanwhile Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday said rebel MLAs have chosen their own way and there would be no hindrance from the party in the path of the dissidents associating themselves with the BJP as he once again targeted the breakaway group whose revolt last week brought down the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

He also tweeted an image of a man in a white kurta pyjama, who is presumably dressed like Uddhav Thackeray, with blood oozing from a wound on his back. This is exactly what happened, Raut tweeted, alluding to the dissidents who switched sides.

While chairing his last cabinet meeting as chief Minister on Wednesday, Uddhav Thackeray, who is also the Sena president, said he was betrayed by his own people.

Raut said the Sena, which headed the MVA government, will play the role of a constructive opposition to the new dispensation.

Talking to reporters a day after Thackeray resigned as the chief minister following a rebellion led by Thane strongman Eknath Shinde that brought down his government, Raut said the dissident leaders will "regret" their decision to part ways with the Shiv Sena.

Raut said he will also go to the Enforcement Directorate's office here on Friday in response to the summons issued to him by the agency in a money laundering case, and clear his position.