‘There will be politics of change and not revenge’: Fadnavis after taking oath as CM

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday emphasised unity within the ruling Mahayuti alliance and said his deputies Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar stand firmly with him.

In his maiden press conference after taking the oath as the chief minister, Fadnavis asserted that the government would make thoughtful decisions aimed at the betterment of Maharashtra. 

"In the past two and a half years, we have worked for Maharashtra's development, and we will continue to do so. We will not stop now. The direction and speed remain unchanged, but our roles have shifted. Every decision we make will prioritise Maharashtra's progress,” he said.

Fadnavis dismissed criticism over the delay in government formation, saying in a coalition setup, decisions require widespread consultations. "I don't see this as a delay in forming the government. Even in 2004, the process took 12-13 days, and in 2009, it took about nine days,” he noted.

The chief minister said he will provide a stable government over the next five years, adding that “there will be politics of change and not revenge". He said he had invited NCP(SP) leader Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan for the swearing-in. None of these leaders attended the event, but they congratulated him and wished him the best.

The swearing-in of Fadnavis, Shinde, and Pawar was held at the sprawling Azad Maidan in Mumbai in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers, NDA chief ministers, and party leaders, besides thousands of supporters.

Several industry bigwigs, Bollywood actors, and sports-persons were also present at the star-studded event. 

Fadnavis said the new assembly speaker will be elected on December 9 during a three-day special session of the house beginning on December 7. The cabinet will be expanded before the winter session of the state legislature, which will be held in Nagpur later this month, he added.

The chief minister evaded questions on who will get the key portfolios like Home and Finance and said, "They will be with our government".

In his first order after assuming office, the chief minister approved Rs 5 lakh in monetary assistance for a bone marrow transplant patient. "The first decision I signed today was to allocate Rs 5 lakh from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for a bone marrow transplant. The overwhelming mandate we've received carries a weight of expectations and a significant challenge to meet them. Fiscal discipline will be crucial as we implement our ambitious plans," he said.