BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis will be sworn in today as the 18th Chief Minister of Maharashtra, ending days of speculation over Maharashtra’s next Chief Minister.
The ceremony will take place at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai at 5.30 p.m. today. It will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several Union Ministers, besides Chief Ministers of States ruled by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.
Outgoing Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed his full support for Chief Minister-designate Devendra Fadnavis.
While it is confirmed that Ajit Pawar will be taking oath as Deputy CM along with him, Eknath Shinde is also likely too, though a confirmation is still awaited.
This will be the 54-year-old Fadnavis’ third stint as Chief Minister. He first served in the top post from October 2014 to November 2019, becoming the youngest Chief Minister of the state at the age of 44. His second stint, however, lasted only five days, from November 23 to 28, 2019, as the undivided Shiv Sena walked out of an alliance with the BJP.
The Mahayuti, combined, won a whopping 230 of 288 Assembly seats. (With Agencies Inputs)