With Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan inviting the Mahayuti alliance to form the next government, outgoing Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will take oath as Deputy Chief Minister in the new government.
The oath-taking ceremony of the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers will take place at Azad Maidan in Mumbai at 5.30 pm in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
While there is no official confirmation, Shinde will take oath along with Ajit Pawar as deputy chief ministers in the new government, according to Shiv Sena sources.
According to reports, party leaders had convinced him to take up the post during a meeting of Shiv Sena leaders at Varsha, the official residence of the chief minister. Thereafter, Shinde agreed to take oath as deputy CM.
Devendra Fadnavis is expected to take on the role of Chief Minister after he was unanimously elected as the leader of the Maharashtra BJP Legislative Party earlier today.
Earlier in the day, at a joint press conference, Mahayuti leaders also had some light-hearted banter.
When asked if Shinde and Ajit Pawar would take oath, Shinde asked to wait, while the NCP chief quipped, “I will take oath, I will not wait.”
Then, referring to the early morning oath-taking ceremony in 2019 at Raj Bhavan, Shindesaid, “Dada (Ajit Pawar) has experience of taking (oath) both in the morning and in the evening.”
Meanwhile, Mahayuti leaders vowed to work together for Maharashtra and said the cabinet expansion would be decided in the next meetings.
“The posts of CM and deputy chief minister are only technical posts. We will all work together for Maharashtra. Other ministers will be decided in upcoming meetings…,” Devendra Fadnavis said.
The BJP leader said that Eknath Shinde, in his capacity as Shiv Sena President and Shiv Sena Legislative Party chief, has given a letter recommending my name for the post of Chief Minister of Maharashtra. In addition, Ajit Dada Pawar, president of the Nationalist Congress Party and leader of the Legislative Party, also issued a similar letter.
Second CM to complete full term
Fadnavis was deputy CM in the outgoing government led by Eknath Shinde. He has been Prime Minister twice. However, the second stint lasted only a few days. The BJP leader is the second person after Vasantrao Naik to complete a full term as Maharashtra CM.
Mahayuti Alliance seats won
The Mahayuti won 230 of the 288 seats in the assembly. The BJP led with 132 seats, while the Shiv Sena got 57 seats and the NCP 41 seats.
