Lagatar24 Desk
Mumbai: Devendra Fadnavis has been named Maharashtra’s Chief Minister following a two-week suspense after the Assembly election results. The BJP leader, accompanied by Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, met Governor CP Radhakrishnan today to stake claim to form the government. The oath-taking ceremony is scheduled for December 5 at 5:30 pm, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to attend.
Fadnavis expressed gratitude to Shinde, stating, “Yesterday I requested Eknath Shinde to remain in the cabinet… The Chief Minister post is just a technical agreement between us. We have always worked together to make decisions and will continue to do so.”
In response, Shinde said, “Two-and-a-half years ago, Fadnavis recommended my name for Chief Minister. This time, I recommended his name.” Shinde, who had briefly retreated to his village in Satara and was later admitted to the hospital for a routine check-up, reiterated his commitment to the BJP’s decision.
The BJP’s dominant performance in the polls, securing 132 out of 288 seats in the Assembly, made Fadnavis the clear frontrunner for the Chief Minister post. However, Shinde’s faction of the Shiv Sena advocated for a second term for their leader, citing the success of welfare schemes under his administration as instrumental in the Mahayuti’s victory.
Despite initial resistance, the BJP legislators’ meeting today unanimously named Fadnavis as the Chief Minister. The decision was further bolstered by Ajit Pawar’s support, ensuring a stable majority for the ruling alliance.
While Shinde has not yet confirmed whether he will join the new cabinet, his silence on the matter has sparked speculation about potential turbulence in the alliance.
Fadnavis, however, appeared unperturbed, assuring that decisions regarding cabinet portfolios would be finalized by this evening. The Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, won a decisive victory, securing 230 out of 288 seats in the Assembly.
