Maharashtra’s caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde congratulated Chief Minister-designate Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday after his election as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Legislative Party leader. Despite the congratulations, Shinde left the question of whether he would be part of the new cabinet unanswered, maintaining an air of suspense.
Devendra Fadnavis is set to take the oath of office as Maharashtra’s new Chief Minister on Thursday, December 5, at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Alongside Fadnavis, two deputy chief ministers, including Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar, will also be sworn in. However, there is no clarity on whether outgoing CM Eknath Shinde will join the new Mahayuti cabinet under Fadnavis’s leadership.
After meeting Governor CP Radhakrishnan, Devendra Fadnavis announced, “The swearing-in ceremony will take place tomorrow at 5:30 pm, with PM Modi present. I have met Eknath Shinde and requested him to join our government, as it is the wish of Mahayuti workers. We are committed to fulfilling our promises to the people of Maharashtra.”
In his remarks, Eknath Shinde expressed pride in the achievements of the Mahayuti government during its two-and-a-half-year tenure. “I am extremely happy with the work done by our government. The last 2.5 years have been remarkable, and our decisions will be remembered in history,” Shinde said.
When asked about his participation in the swearing-in, Shinde left the matter open, asking journalists to “wait until evening.” Ajit Pawar humorously intervened, saying, “We will know about Shinde’s decision by evening, but I will take my oath—I won’t wait.” Shinde responded with a smile, saying, “Dada (Ajit Pawar) has experience of taking oaths both in the morning and evening,” referencing the 2019 incident when Fadnavis and Pawar’s government collapsed five days after an early morning swearing-in.
Meanwhile, preparations for the swearing-in ceremony are in full swing. A delegation of the ruling Mahayuti alliance met the Governor at Raj Bhavan following Fadnavis’s election. Speaking at the meeting, BJP central observer and Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the new “double-engine government” would drive development in both Maharashtra and at the Centre.
Eknath Shinde also spoke about the historical significance of the occasion, recalling how Fadnavis had recommended his name for CM two and a half years ago. “Now, Shiv Sena has recommended Fadnavis for the CM role. This is a government being formed in a healthy atmosphere, and I wish him all the best,” Shinde said.
According to BJP leader Prasad Lad, the swearing-in ceremony will be a grand event, with nearly 42,000 attendees expected. “PM Modi, 9-10 Union Ministers, and 19 Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers will attend. Special arrangements have been made for 40,000 BJP supporters, and a separate seating area for 2,000 VVIPs, including religious leaders, will be set up,” he added.
To ensure security, more than 4,000 police personnel, including 520 officers, have been deployed for the event.
The BJP achieved a significant victory in the November 20 Maharashtra elections, securing 132 out of 288 assembly seats, marking its best-ever performance in the state. Together with its allies, Shiv Sena and NCP, the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition commands a strong majority of 230 seats, paving the way for the formation of the new government.
