Maharashtra oath-taking LIVE | State will see politics of change, not revenge: Fadnavis
Nation's elite, from Chief Ministers and Union Ministers to Adanis, Ambanis, Bollywood stars and cricketing icons assembled for event at Azad Maidan
Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday evening took oath as Maharashtra chief minister, while leaders of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, were sworn in as deputy chief ministers at a grand ceremony in south Mumbai’s sprawling Azad Maidan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several Union ministers and chief ministers of various states besides thousands of supporters of the Mahayuti alliance were present at the ceremony, which took place almost a fortnight after results of the Assembly elections were declared on November 23.
No other ministers were sworn in. The ministry will be expanded next week, ahead of the winter session of state legislature in Nagpur, sources said.
Also read: Devendra Fadnavis: Nagpur Mayor to three-time Maharashtra CM
Those present included Union ministers Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari and Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Chief Ministers of various NDA-ruled states were also present, including Yogi Adityanath, Nitish Kumar, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Mohan Yadav and Pramod Sawant.
Leading lights from Bollywood and India Inc, including Shah Rukh Khan and Mukesh Ambani, were among those present at the ceremony.
Fadnavis, 54, elected from Nagpur South West constituency, was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor C P Radhakrishnan, who also swore in Shinde (60) and Pawar (65).
Fadnavis 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.
The BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP 'Mahayuti' coalition has a commanding majority of 230 seats.
Also read: Women's welfare, addressing rural distress top Mahayuti 2.0 agenda
A delegation of the ruling Mahayuti alliance met the Governor at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday, soon after Fadnavis was unanimously elected state BJP legislature party leader.
Police made special arrangements to accommodate the more than 40,000 party supporters who attended the oath taking ceremony on Thursday, and a separate seating arrangement was made for the around 2,000 VVIPs, an official said.
More than 4,000 police personnel were deployed for security during the swearing-in ceremony, the official said. At least 3,500 police personnel and 520 officers were deployed for security arrangements, he added.
Meanwhile, as Fadnavis took oath as CM for the third time, his banker wife Amruta called it a “beautiful day.” “This is a happy occasion and the sense of responsibility is greater,” she said.
(With agency inputs)
Live Updates
- 5 Dec 2024 8:42 PM IST
Will provide stable govt; Maharashtra will see politics of change, not revenge: Fadnavis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said he will provide a stable government over the next five years and the state under his leadership will see politics of change and not revenge.
Addressing his first press conference after taking over as CM, Fadnavis said the mandate of people in the 2024 assembly elections reflected their expectations and love, and he is feeling the pressure of their hope.
He maintained Maharashtra will grow with same speed in social, infrastructure, industrial sectors.
The CM informed that election of a new assembly speaker will take place on December 9 during a three-day special session of the house beginning from December 7.
Fadnavis said the new cabinet, which now has deputy CMs Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena) and Ajit Pawar (NCP), will be expanded before the winter session of the state legislature which will he held in Nagpur later this month.
- 5 Dec 2024 8:18 PM IST
Hope Mahayuti govt uses 'unbelievable' mandate in right way: Raj Thackeray
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray on Thursday hoped the Mahayuti government makes use of its "unbelievable" mandate in the right way for the "state, the Marathi people, language and culture".
In a post on X, Thackeray extended good wishes to his "friend" Devendra Fadnavis. He said Fadnavis should have got the opportunity in 2019 and 2022.
In 2019 (post assembly polls) and 2022 (after fall of Maha Vikas Aghadi government), Fadnavis could not become the chief minister despite the BJP having the highest number of seats.
"This time, the people have given an unbelievable mandate to the Mahayuti, more so to the leadership of Devendra Fadnavis. I hope this is rightly used for the state, the Marathi people, the language and culture," Thackeray said.
The BJP won 132 of the 288 assembly seats in the Maharashtra polls, followed by Shiv Sena (57), NCP (41). The opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) won 20, Congress 16 and NCP SP (10).
Fadnavis was sworn in as the chief minister of Maharashtra along with his two deputies Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis at a grand function attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the evening.
Thackeray said his party will support any good initiative of the government for the next five years. "But if we feel the government is going wrong, or taking people for granted, then even if it is not possible in the legislative assembly right now, outside we will surely make the government aware of its mistakes," Thackeray said.
The MNS chief also extended his wishes to Shinde and Pawar. Thackeray was invited for the swearing in ceremony at Azad Maidan but was unable to attend.
- 5 Dec 2024 7:55 PM IST
In his first decision, CM Fadnavis approves aid for patient
Signing his first file after taking charge of office, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday approved a proposal to provide financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh for a patient awaiting bone marrow transplant.
Pune-based Chandrakant Kurhade's wife had sought help from the Chief Minister's relief fund for her husband's treatment.
The chief minister put his signature on the file before he chaired the first cabinet meeting.
Fadnavis and deputy chief ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar took oath of office and secrecy at a ceremony at Azad Maidan earlier in the evening.
