Devendra Fadnavis to be sworn in as Maharashtra CM along with two Deputy CMs

Pic/PTI

BJP legislature party leader Devendra Fadnavis will be sworn-in as the new chief minister of Maharashtra on Thursday evening at a grand ceremony in Mumbai to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other dignitaries.

Fadnavis, who would be occupying the CM's post for the third time, along with two deputy chief ministers will take the oath of office, BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar told reporters, adding that other members of the cabinet will take oath later, reported PTI.

Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde are expected to take oath as deputy chief ministers, sources told PTI.

While Pawar has said he would take oath on Thursday, there was no confirmation yet from the Shinde camp that he would accept the deputy CM post, reported PTI.

Asked when other ministers would take the oath of office, Mungantiwar told reporters, "It is most likely that the council of ministers will be sworn in before the winter session of the assembly starts, so as to avoid administrative disruption," reported PTI.

The swearing-in ceremony will be held at the Azad Maidan ground in south Mumbai. Governor C P Radhakrishnan will administer the oath of office to Fadnavis and his deputies, reported PTI.

The formation of the new government comes after two weeks of intense negotiations following the November 20 state assembly polls and results on November 23.

Fadnavis, 54, who represents Nagpur South West constituency, emerged as the frontrunner for the top post as he was the face of the BJP's campaign and led the party to victory in 132 seats in the 288-member House.

Together with allies Shiv Sena and NCP, the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition has a commanding majority of 230 seats.

Ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, Fadnavis visited the famous Siddhivinayak temple in the morning and performed a puja.

On Wednesday, Fadnavis, with Shinde and Ajit Pawar, met Governor Radhakrishnan to formally stake claim to form a government, presenting letters of support from the coalition partners.

Before that, Fadnavis was elected as leader of the BJP legislature party at a meeting on Wednesday morning.

The swearing-in ceremony will have 42,000 attendees, BJP leader Prasad Lad had said earlier. Besides PM Modi, several Union ministers and chief ministers and deputy CMs of various states will attend the event, he said, reported PTI.

Special arrangements have been made to accommodate 40,000 BJP supporters and a separate seating arrangement made for 2,000 VVIPs, including leaders from various religions, he said, reported PTI.

More than 4,000 police personnel have been deployed for security, officials said.

Fadnavis has been chief minister twice. He headed the BJP-Shiv Sena government for five years from 2014 to 2019. Amid a deadlock after the 2019 elections, as the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena severed its ties with the BJP over the CM post, Fadnavis was sworn in as chief minister with Ajit Pawar as his deputy.

But this government lasted only 72 hours as Pawar could not get the backing of enough NCP MLAs.

When the Mahayuti government came to power under Shinde's leadership following a split in the Shiv Sena, Fadnavis became a deputy CM. Ajit Pawar too joined this government as a second deputy CM in 2023 after he split the NCP led by Sharad Pawar.

Ajit Pawar, 65 would be taking oath as deputy CM for the sixth time.

(With inputs from PTI)