Devendra Fadnavis to Take Oath as Maharashtra Chief Minister on December 5
Maharashtra is set to witness a historic event on December 5 as Devendra Fadnavis will be sworn in as the Chief Minister of the state. On Wednesday, he was unanimously elected as the leader of the BJP’s legislature party during a crucial meeting held in Mumbai.
The swearing-in ceremony will take place at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on Thursday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to grace the event. Fadnavis’s selection for the CM position was finalized during a BJP core committee meeting held just before the legislature party session. The meeting was attended by key BJP leaders, including Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, and Fadnavis himself.
Sitharaman and Rupani have been appointed as central observers for the Maharashtra legislature party’s meeting, which played a pivotal role in finalizing the leadership decision.
Earlier, BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar announced that the Mahayuti (BJP-led alliance) partners would meet with Governor CP Radhakrishnan at 3:30 PM on Wednesday to formally stake their claim to form the next government in Maharashtra.
Fadnavis’s strategic meeting with caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at his official residence ‘Varsha’ in Mumbai on Tuesday further solidified the BJP’s efforts to maintain strong ties with its allies. While the specifics of the hour-long meeting remain undisclosed, it is believed to have been focused on coordinating the upcoming swearing-in ceremony and discussions regarding the alliance’s future direction.
Preparations for the grand event are in full swing, with nearly 2,000 VVIPs and around 40,000 supporters expected to attend. The guest list includes several Union ministers and 19 chief ministers and deputy chief ministers from various states, underscoring the significance of the occasion. BJP leader Prasad Lad referred to the event as a “historic moment” for Maharashtra, marking a new chapter in the state’s political landscape.
However, challenges loom regarding the distribution of portfolios among the alliance partners. Shiv Sena leaders have indicated that, in line with the convention of alliance politics, their party expects to receive the crucial home portfolio, given that the BJP will occupy the Chief Minister’s position.
The BJP’s performance in the November 20 Maharashtra election was nothing short of remarkable, securing 132 out of 288 assembly seats, its best-ever result in the state. With the support of its allies—Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde and the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar—the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition now commands a formidable majority with 230 seats, setting the stage for a strong and stable government in Maharashtra.
