Fadnavis Returns as Maharashtra CM, with Shinde and Ajit Serving as Deputies
Devendra Fadnavis is set to take the oath as Maharashtra’s chief minister on Thursday, joined by two deputies, signaling a major political change.
Image Source: Hindustan Times
Devendra Fadnavis will be sworn in as Maharashtra’s chief minister on Thursday, accompanied by two deputies, after being elected leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) legislative unit and staking claim to form the government. This marks the end of nearly two weeks of uncertainty following the state assembly elections. The ceremony, scheduled at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan at 5:30 PM, signifies a major milestone for Fadnavis, a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) loyalist. His political journey includes a five-year tenure as CM from 2014 to 2019, a brief five-day stint in 2019, and leading the BJP to a record performance in the 2024 elections.
Outgoing CM Eknath Shinde and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar are also expected to take oath alongside Fadnavis at an event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Fadnavis emphasized the spirit of teamwork, saying, “The posts of CM or deputy CM are merely technical; we will work together for the state’s progress.” Shinde, however, kept people guessing about his participation, while Pawar confirmed his readiness to take the oath.
The Mahayuti alliance, led by Fadnavis, Shinde, and Pawar, staked claim to form the government with support from 236 legislators. This alliance ends the deadlock caused by the Maha Vikas Aghadi’s (MVA) defeat, securing only 50 seats in the November 20 elections. Speculation about Shinde’s dissatisfaction over not being reappointed as CM had grown, with demands from his party for key portfolios like the home department and the Speaker’s position causing delays. Despite the tensions, Shinde publicly endorsed Fadnavis, highlighting their mutual support over the years.
Fadnavis’s selection was formalized during a BJP meeting attended by central observers, including Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani. The unanimous decision reflected the party’s strategy to maintain a “double-engine government” under Modi and Fadnavis, aimed at fulfilling promises outlined in the Mahayuti manifesto. Sitharaman noted the “unexpected and unprecedented” election mandate, emphasizing the BJP’s commitment to a developed and united India.
The ceremony will witness the presence of senior BJP leaders, chief ministers from NDA-ruled states, Bollywood and Marathi film industry figures, diplomats, and beneficiaries of welfare schemes like Ladki Bahin. Special arrangements have been made for nearly 42,000 attendees, with over 4,000 police personnel ensuring security. This event marks the beginning of a new chapter for Maharashtra’s governance under Fadnavis’s leadership.
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