Mumbai (Maharashtra), December 5: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis is set to be sworn in as Maharashtra’s Chief Minister for the third time at a grand ceremony at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan on Thursday. The event will also see NCP leader Ajit Pawar and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde taking oath as Deputy Chief Ministers in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The area surrounding Azad Maidan has been adorned with posters featuring Fadnavis, Shinde, and Pawar, reflecting the political alliance of the Mahayuti government. Several National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders, including chief ministers of other states, are expected to attend the ceremony.
Fadnavis Reclaims the Top Post
After days of intense political speculation, Fadnavis, Shinde, and Pawar jointly met Governor CP Radhakrishnan on Wednesday to stake their claim to form the government. The decision to appoint Fadnavis as the CM came following his unanimous election as the BJP Legislative Party leader during a meeting held at Vidhan Bhawan. Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani, serving as BJP’s central observer, announced the decision.
Fadnavis’ return to the CM’s office comes after prolonged negotiations, as Shinde initially sought the top post. However, he eventually stepped aside to back Fadnavis, aligning with Prime Minister Modi’s choice.
Political History and Context
Fadnavis, representing the Nagpur South West constituency, has been a dominant figure in Maharashtra politics since 1999. This marks his third term as CM, having previously served in 2014 and briefly in 2019 during an early morning oath ceremony with Ajit Pawar.
In the recently concluded Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a landslide victory, clinching 235 seats. The BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 132 seats, while Shiv Sena and NCP bagged 57 and 41 seats, respectively.
Meanwhile, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a major setback. Congress secured just 16 seats, Shiv Sena (UBT) won 20, and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction managed only 10 seats, marking a significant loss for the coalition.
With this new political chapter in Maharashtra, the Mahayuti government is set to chart its course under Fadnavis’ leadership, alongside Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde, promising a strong coalition for the state’s governance.
