MUMBAI: Eknath Shinde will continue as chief minister of Maharashtra as the BJP will lose credibility in case he is removed and no one would be willing to go along with it, said a senior BJP leader on Monday, dismissing speculation and claims made by the Uddhav Thackeray camp and the Congress that Ajit Pawar had been promised the CM's post.The leader also said it was unlikely the Speaker would suspend any legislator.The NCP, said the BJP leader, has joined an existing government and not helped form a government.

Shinde, he said, was fully aware that NCP was joining the government, adding that portfolio distribution cannot be done without the chief minister's signature.The BJP leader said he was confident that none of those who had come along with Ajit Pawar would go back to the NCP.

The final tally of those with Ajit Pawar will be 43 MLAs, 6 MLCs and 3 MPs, he said.

This will enable the Shinde-Fadnavis government to install its chairperson in the Vidhan Parishad, he said.On the ethical issue of joining hands with the NCP, the leader said it is not that every person is ethical at all times.

"Most times one is ethical, and it is important to remember that one must stay alive to do most ethical things," he said.Sources pointed out the NCP is not a party with an ideology "Paani re tera rang kaisa.

They take the colour of water," said sources.On disgruntlement within the party on losing out on ministerial berths, the BJP leader pointed out that had the BJP won 145 seats, there would be no sharing, but in a coalition things have to be shared.

It has been made clear to BJP members that they must be ready to make sacrifices.

The party leadership has already held talks with 90% of the MLAs, the leader noted.On the reasons Ajit Pawar joined hands with BJP, the leader said they were many, including Pawar Sr's desire to hand over the party to Supriya Sule.

Also, since the year 2019, a majority of the NCP MLAs have been keen to form a government with BJP.

"They are aware which way the wind is blowing and worried about their future.

In private meetings, NCP leaders say Pawar Saheb has said Modi will form the government in 2024," said the leader, adding that had Ajit been made leader of his party, perhaps the scenario would have been different.

"They kept pushing him away and so he came to us," said the leader.

The BJP, said the leader, benefits from the alliance with the NCP as the MVA has been decimated.

"The NCP has influence not just in western Maharashtra but also in Marathwada, parts of Konkan, north Maharashtra and Vidarbha.

The BJP will benefit in the Lok Sabha as well as in the assembly elections," he said.Elaborating, he said the Modi wave will ensure a win in Lok Sabha elections but in the assembly elections, it has a limit (in 2014, at the height of the Modi wave, the BJP won 122 seats in the assembly), and that is where it is important that the local leadership delivers.

With the SC order on civic elections expected in August, elections will be held immediately, the leader said.