Political Stalemate Ends: Devendra Fadnavis to Lead Maharashtra as 18th Chief Minister
Devendra Fadnavis is set to be sworn in as the 18th Chief Minister of Maharashtra today, bringing an end to a prolonged political stalemate that followed the Mahayuti alliance’s overwhelming victory in the state assembly elections held on November 20. The swearing-in ceremony will be held at Azad Maidan in Mumbai at 5 pm, with prominent leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah expected to be in attendance.
This marks the third term as Chief Minister for the 54-year-old BJP leader, who first assumed the role in October 2014, making history as the youngest Chief Minister of Maharashtra at the age of 44. His second term was brief, lasting only five days in November 2019, when the undivided Shiv Sena withdrew from its alliance with the BJP, leading to a political reshuffle in the state.
The formation of the government comes after the Mahayuti alliance secured a commanding majority, winning 230 of the 288 Assembly seats. The BJP emerged as the largest party with 132 seats, a record tally for the party in Maharashtra, while the Shiv Sena faction led by Eknath Shinde secured 57 seats, and Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) won 41.
Apart from Fadnavis, the swearing-in ceremony will see two Deputy Chief Ministers taking the oath. NCP leader Ajit Pawar is confirmed for one of the roles, while Eknath Shinde, who initially hesitated to relinquish claims to the Chief Minister’s post, has reportedly agreed to serve as the other Deputy Chief Minister.
