The Mahayuti coalition will take oath on Thursday, December 5, with BJP's Devendra Fadnavis as chief minister and ally leaders Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar as his deputy chief ministers. This comes after Fadnavis met Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan on Wednesday to stake claim to form government.
However, all eyes are on the home portfolio, which was held by Fadnavis in the previous government. With Shinde giving up the CM post and initially hesitating to join the new government, there are speculations whether his Shiv Sena will try to bag the home ministry.
Official invitation card of swearing-in ceremony with Devendra Fadnavis mentioned as Chief Minister of Maharashtra released by state government.
— ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2024
(Pic: Team of Devendra Fadnavis) pic.twitter.com/WPCtLIjJye
However, local reports suggest that BJP might retain the coveted portfolio. It is not clear whether Fadnavis will hold the home ministry along with his CM post. BJP has reportedly finalised its Cabinet ministers and portfolio while Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP were yet to release a list.
The portfolios were reportedly allocated when the three parties held a meeting with the BJP top brass in Delhi earlier.
Eknath Shinde congratulated Maharashtra CM designate Devendra Fadnavis on his election as the BJP Legislative Party leader and extended his best wishes, at Varsha Bungalow.
— ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2024
Source: Office of Devendra Fadnavis pic.twitter.com/Lfwa7vhgY4
BJP is expected to get 21 cabinet positions, including the posts of Speaker and Legislative Council Chairman. Shiv Sena will have to settle for 12 ministries while NCP is eyeing 10 ministries.
Fadnavis will swear in as Maharashtra CM for a second time on Thursday at 5.30 pm at Azad Maidan, Mumbai. The oath-taking ceremony will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Ten Union ministers, 19 chief ministers of NDA-ruled states, former Maharashtra CMs and Bollywood actors will also be present.
#WATCH | Posters of Maharashtra CM-designate Devendra Fadnavis, Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde and NCP chief Ajit Pawar cover the area around Azad Maidan in Mumbai. Posters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister-BJP chief JP Nadda also seen.
— ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2024
Devendra Fadnavis will… pic.twitter.com/N5YkhTVIUw
In total, around 42,000 people, including 2,000 VVIPs, are expected to attend the ceremony. Security has been beefed up in the area with around 4,000 police personnel deployed at the venue.
Speaking about Shinde, Fadnavis said that he requested the Shiv Sena chief to remain in the cabinet. He added that chief minister's post is just a technical agreement and that the allies have been working together while taking decisions.
Responding to Fadnavis, Shinde said that two-and-a-half years ago, The BJP leader recommended him as the CM and now he is backing him for the same.
This comes after two weeks of suspense regarding the chief minister post. The Mahayuti alliance bagged 230 seats out of 288 in Maharashtra, with BJP winning 132, Shiv Sena 57 and NCP 41. They also have support of six other MLAs, including the Jan Surajya Shakti led by Vinay Kore, Yuva Janashakti led by Ravi Rana, the Rashtriya Samaj Paksha Mahadev Jankar and two independents.
