Devendra Fadnavis is set to take the oath as Maharashtra’s Chief Minister on Thursday, marking a pivotal political moment. He will be joined by two deputies: Eknath Shinde, the outgoing chief minister, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar. This announcement concludes nearly two weeks of suspense over government formation following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) resounding victory in the November 20 assembly elections.
Fadnavis, who was elected as the leader of the BJP’s legislative party unit, will lead Maharashtra once again, following a remarkable journey that includes serving as CM from 2014 to 2019, briefly assuming the role for five days in 2019, and now leading the BJP to its strongest performance in the 2024 assembly elections. The swearing-in ceremony will take place at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan at 5:30 pm on Thursday and is expected to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The ceremony will also see Shinde and Pawar taking the oath, symbolizing a collaborative government. Fadnavis, in his address, emphasized that the technical titles of chief minister and deputy chief ministers are secondary, stressing that all three leaders would work together for the state’s development. “We are all committed to working as a team,” he said, with Shinde and Pawar by his side.
The day before the swearing-in, Shinde and Fadnavis met for a 30-minute discussion at the CM’s residence, Varsha. While no immediate breakthroughs were announced, Shinde continued to express his support for Fadnavis. “I am happy to back Fadnavis for the top post, just as he supported me two and a half years ago,” Shinde stated.
Earlier, the BJP held a meeting with its 132 newly elected lawmakers and senior leaders, where Fadnavis’s name was proposed by former state BJP presidents Chandrakant Patil and Sudhir Mungantiwar, with overwhelming support from other party leaders. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani, who were the BJP’s central observers, conducted the meeting. In the absence of other proposals, Fadnavis was unanimously chosen.
Sitharaman highlighted the “unexpected and unprecedented” mandates in Maharashtra and Haryana, which she viewed as a message for the country. Referring to Prime Minister Modi’s campaign slogan “Ek Hain Toh Safe Hain” (If we stay united, we are safe), she emphasized that the “double-engine government” under Modi and Fadnavis would fulfill the Mahayuti alliance’s promises.
Fadnavis expressed gratitude for the people’s mandate, pledging to prioritize commitments made to various sections of society, including farmers and women, and to maintain Maharashtra’s standing as a top state.
The government also enjoys the support of smaller parties, including Vinay Kore-led Jan Surajya Shakti, Ravi Rana-led Yuva Janashakti, and Mahadev Jankar-led Rashtriya Samaj Paksha, along with two independent legislators.
The swearing-in ceremony will be a grand affair, attended by nearly 42,000 people, including PM Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, chief ministers of NDA states, and other prominent political and religious figures. In addition, the event will see the participation of celebrities from the film industry and beneficiaries of BJP welfare schemes, such as the Ladki Bahin initiative.
Special arrangements have been made to accommodate large crowds, with seating for BJP supporters and VVIPs, and over 4,000 police personnel deployed for security.
