BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis is set to be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra on December 5, marking his third term in office. The oath-taking ceremony will take place at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, where Fadnavis will be joined by two Deputy Chief Ministers—Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar.
The decision to appoint Fadnavis as CM was finalized at the BJP core committee meeting held in Mumbai today. During the meeting, he was also unanimously elected as the Leader of the Maharashtra BJP Legislative Party.
The meeting was attended by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who were the central observers for the BJP legislature party.
The announcement ends days of speculation regarding the leadership of Maharashtra’s government. Initially, there were rumours of a possible deadlock between Fadnavis and Shinde, especially after Shinde’s sudden departure to his native village following discussions with BJP leaders in Delhi last week. However, Shinde has reportedly agreed to serve as Deputy Chief Minister in the new Mahayuti (Grand Alliance) government.
Fadnavis visited Shinde at his official residence, Varsha, in South Mumbai on Tuesday evening, solidifying the power-sharing agreement.
The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a decisive victory in the recent Assembly elections held on November 20, with results announced on November 23. The alliance won 230 out of 288 seats, with the BJP securing 132 seats, Shinde-led Shiv Sena winning 57 seats, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction gaining 41 seats. While Fadnavis and his deputies will be sworn in on December 5, the remaining ministers in the cabinet are expected to take the oath later.
