A press conference of the Mahayut leaders, after their meeting with the governor, witnessed some lighter moments as outgoing chief minister Eknath Shinde took a cheeky dig at his deputy Ajit Pawar.
Since it became clear that BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis would be sworn in as the chief minister, media persons asked Shinde whether he would agree to be the deputy CM. The Mahayuti leaders had earlier said there would be two deputy CMs in the new government, one each from the Shiv Sena and the NCP.
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Shinde tried to evade the question, saying “Wait till evening”.
Ajit Pawar, who was sitting next to him cut in and said: "Don't know about him, but I am taking oath tomorrow”.
As Ajit Pawar’s comments sparked a laugh riot, Shinde quipped: "Ajit dada (as Pawar is called) has experience of taking oath in the morning as well as in the evening."
The Shiv Sena chief was referring to the early morning oath of Ajit Pawar as Fadnavis’ deputy in 2019 after the Shiv Sena broke its alliance with the BJP. But the government lasted only three days as Ajit didn’t get support of enough MLAs.
Earlier in the day, the Mahayuti leaders met Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan who invited Fadnavis to form the government.
The swearing in ceremony will be held at the sprawling Azad Maidan in south Mumbai on Thursday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
