Fadnavis to be Sworn in as Maharashtra CM on December 5

Mumbai: Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis is set to take oath as the chief minister of Maharashtra on Thursday evening at Azad Maidan, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was unanimously elected as the BJP’s Legislative Party leader on Wednesday. The leaders of the Mahayuti alliance, including Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar met Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan at around 3.20 pm to stake claim to form the government under Fadnavis’ leadership. According to sources, only the chief minister and two deputy chief ministers are expected to take oath on Thursday.

Later, Fadnavis said the chief minister’s post is only a “technical arrangement” and he will work with Shinde and Pawar as a team.

“For us, the posts of CM and DCMs are only a technical arrangement. In the last two and half years of the Mahayuti government, we took collective decisions and we will continue the same in future,” he said.

The Shiv Sena, NCP and other smaller alliance partners of the BJP submitted letters to the Governor supporting Fadnavis’ claim to the CM post.

Union home minister Nirmala Sitaraman, former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani and senior NCP leader Praful Patel were also present at the Raj Bhavan when the Mahayuti delegation led by Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar met the Governor.

After meeting the Governor, Fadnavis thanked Shinde and Pawar for recommending his name for the CM’s post in their letters of support.

Further indicating that Shinde will join the government headed by him, the Maharashtra CM-designate said, “All legislators of Mahayuti want our current chief minister Eknath Shinde to be part of the new government. I personally met him on Tuesday and requested him to remain in the government. I have full faith that he will be with us. We will together fulfill the promises made to the people of Maharashtra.”

Pawar also said that there were never any differences between the Mahayuti alliance partners. “We are experienced leaders and we will work for the development and welfare of Maharashtra. There will be no differences in Mahayuti. If any issues arise between the BJP and NCP, state NCP chief Sunil Tatkare and state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule will sort out those issues at their level. Three of us will run the government efficiently,” he said.