Maharashtra: Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde on Thursday took oath as deputy chief minister in the BJP-led Mahayuti government and called on late Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.
Shinde began his oath by bowing to Balasaheb Thackeray, remembering mentor late Anand Dighe and receiving blessings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Amit Shah and 13 crore residents of Maharshtra.
The 60-year-old former CM, elected MLA from Kopri-Pachpakhadi in Thane district, led the Shiv Sena to a spectacular victory in the polls as it won 57 of the 81 seats it contested. Shinde reduced the rival Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena to just 20 assembly segments.
Shinde and NCP chief Ajit Pawar received oath from Governor CP Radhakrishnan at a ceremony at Azad Maidan in Mumbai.
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as chief minister.
At a press conference at Raj Bhavan immediately after the meeting on Wednesday, Shinde said, “I am happy that Fadnavis had recommended that I become CM at this place about two-and-a-half years ago. Now we have given a recommendation letter from Shiv Sena to Fadnavis to become CM. This government is being formed in a healthy atmosphere.”
Major infrastructure projects
The Mumbai Coastal Road, Mumbai Trans Harbor Link (Atal Setu, Metro, Navi Mumbai International Airport, Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg and Dharavi redevelopment) are among the major projects pushed for by Shinde.
Key role in Mahayuti's victory
Eknath Shinde played a key role in Mahayuti's huge victory in the parliamentary elections. His government's Ladki Bahin Yojana (beloved sister), a cash transfer program aimed at women from poor families, ultimately proved to be the decisive factor for the ruling bloc in the elections. The scheme became so popular among women that the Shiv Sena leader was given the title 'Ladka Bhau' (beloved brother).