Mumbai, Dec 5: Scripting a powerful comeback, Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday evening took oath as Maharashtra Chief Minister, while leaders of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, were sworn in as deputy chief ministers at a grand ceremony in south Mumbai’s sprawling Azad Maidan.
Immediately after the ceremony, the triumvirate drove together to Mantralaya, the state secretariat, also in south Mumbai, where Fadnavis, 54, chaired the maiden cabinet meeting of the new regime and also addressed a press conference.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several Union ministers and chief ministers of various states besides thousands of supporters of the Mahayuti alliance were present at the swearing in ceremony, held almost a fortnight after results of the state assembly elections were declared on November 23.
Most prominent opposition leaders were conspicuous by their absence at the glittering event, which was preceded by a musical show by Ajay-Atul, the music composer duo of brothers Ajay Gogavale and Atul Gogavale.
No other ministers were sworn in. The ministry will be expanded next week, ahead of the winter session of state legislature in Nagpur, a BJP leader said.
Those present at the ceremony included Union ministers Amit Shah, J P Nadda, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari and Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Chief ministers of various NDA-ruled states were also present, including Yogi Adityanath, Nitish Kumar, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Mohan Yadav and Pramod Sawant.
Also present were actors Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Ranbir Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit, cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar and industrialist Mukesh Ambani.
“Congratulations to Shri Devendra Fadnavis Ji on taking oath as Maharashtra’s Chief Minister. Congratulations to Shri Eknath Shinde Ji and Shri Ajit Pawar Ji on taking oath as the Deputy Chief Ministers of the state,” Modi said on X after the ceremony.
“This team is a blend of experience and dynamism, and it is due to this team’s collective efforts that the Mahayuti has got a historic mandate in Maharashtra. This team will do everything possible to fulfil the aspirations of the people of the state and to ensure there is good governance. I assure all possible support from the Centre in furthering development in Maharashtra,” Modi addd.
Fadnavis, elected from Nagpur South West constituency, was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor C P Radhakrishnan, who also swore in Shinde (60) and Pawar (65). (PTI)
New CM clears first file, provides Rs 5 lakh financial aid to patient
Mumbai, Dec 5: Newly sworn-in Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday, before chairing the maiden Cabinet meeting, cleared the first file on providing financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to Pune-based patient Chandrakant Shankar Karhade. The financial aid will be provided from the Chief Minister’s assistance fund.
Fadnavis, who was accompanied by Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, has asked the administration to work efficiently.
“We have to work with speed to fulfil the people’s expectations. We will expedite the decision-making process and also the speed in its implementation to achieve sustainable development,” he told the bureaucrats at the Cabinet meeting.
Fadnavis was welcomed by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar by giving a bouquet. The state chief secretary Sujata Saunik also welcomed the Chief Minister and two Chief Ministers before the commencement of the Cabinet meeting.
Immediately, after entering the Mantralaya straight from swearing in function from Azad Maidan, the Mantralaya staff performed a traditional Aarti for the Chief Minister and two Deputy Chief Ministers. The trio paid floral tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji, and Rajnath Jihad at the entrance of the Mantralaya. They were welcomed by the Mantralaya staff. (IANS)