Devendra Fadnavis took the oath as Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Thursday, marking his third term in office. The swearing-in ceremony, held in Mumbai, was administered by Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan and attended by several dignitaries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and BJP National President J.P. Nadda.
#WATCH | Mumbai: Devendra Fadnavis takes oath as Chief Minister of Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/i14uGpEyr6
— ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2024
Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar were sworn in as Deputy Chief Ministers during the event. Prominent political figures such as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar were present, along with Union Ministers and state leaders. The ceremony also witnessed the attendance of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, and industrial magnates Mukesh Ambani and Kumar Mangalam Birla.
#WATCH | Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde takes oath as Deputy CM of Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/G33WOBOLbw
— ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2024
The BJP high command finalized Fadnavis’s appointment after Mahayuti alliance’s victory in the recent Maharashtra Assembly elections. The decision was announced following extensive discussions within the BJP, culminating in a core committee meeting in Mumbai.
#WATCH | Mumbai | NCP chief Ajit Pawar takes oath as Deputy CM of Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/j188Ec4YXu
— ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2024
While Ajit Pawar’s selection as Deputy CM was widely expected, Eknath Shinde’s role led to speculation. Initially, Shinde had indicated there would be no change in leadership but later committed to following the BJP’s high command decision. With the BJP emerging as the largest party, the Chief Minister’s post was awarded to Fadnavis.
This development underscores the BJP’s leadership stance in Maharashtra’s political landscape, as Fadnavis steps into his third term amidst high expectations.
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