Mumbai, December 5: BJP legislature party leader Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra, while his allies Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar took their oaths as Deputy Chief Ministers at a grand ceremony in Mumbai on Thursday evening.
The event, held at Azad Maidan, saw the attendance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several Union ministers, and chief ministers from various states, alongside thousands of supporters from the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition. The swearing-in ceremony took place nearly two weeks after the results of the assembly elections were announced on November 23.
Fadnavis, who represents Nagpur South West and is 54 years old, assumed the role of Chief Minister for the third time. Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan administered the oath of office to Fadnavis and his two deputies.
Other members of the new cabinet are expected to take their oaths before the winter session of the assembly, as noted earlier by BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar.
Fadnavis emerged as the leading candidate for the top post, given his prominent role in the BJP’s successful election campaign, which secured 132 seats in the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. The BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP 'Mahayuti' coalition now holds a commanding majority with 230 seats.
