Devendra Fadnavis Sworn in as Maharashtra Chief Minister for Third Time

Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Thursday evening, concluding nearly two weeks of suspense and a power struggle between the BJP and the Shiv Sena over the top post.

Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and NCP chief Ajit Pawar, whose impressive performances in last month’s elections bolstered the Mahayuti alliance to a decisive victory, have been appointed as Deputy Chief Ministers. This maintains the existing 1+2 formula, with a significant adjustment favoring Mr. Fadnavis.

With this appointment, Fadnavis becomes a three-time Chief Minister and a six-time MLA, marking a notable milestone in his political career.

In a related development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Eknath Shinde on his new role as Deputy Chief Minister during a ceremony held at Azad Maidan in Mumbai. Shinde’s appointment is seen as a recognition of his vital role in the political realignment that led to the formation of the Mahayuti alliance. The event also underscored the beginning of a new chapter for the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP coalition government in Maharashtra, with numerous political leaders in attendance, emphasizing the importance of this political transition.

Maharashtra Chief Minister-designate Devendra Fadnavis offered prayers at Shree Siddhivinayak Temple ahead of his swearing-in ceremony in Mumbai today. Fadnavis, the leader of the BJP legislature party, will be sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Thursday evening, December 5, 2024, during a grand ceremony expected to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other dignitaries.

This marks Fadnavis’s third term as Chief Minister, and he will be joined by two Deputy Chief Ministers, as confirmed by BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar. Sources indicate that Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde are anticipated to take the oath as Deputy Chief Ministers.

To ensure security for the swearing-in ceremony, over 4,000 police personnel have been deployed. Traffic regulation will be managed by an Additional Commissioner of Police and three Deputy Commissioners from the Mumbai Police, along with a dedicated unit of 30 police officers and 250 police enforcers.

Fadnavis was unanimously elected as the Maharashtra BJP Legislature Party leader on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, paving the way for his swearing-in. The ceremony is scheduled to take place at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai at 5:30 p.m. today, with attendance from Prime Minister Modi, several Union Ministers, and Chief Ministers from states governed by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.

Outgoing Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed his full support for Chief Minister-designate Devendra Fadnavis, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and collective decision-making in governance.