Mumbai: Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde was sworn in as the Maharashtra Chief Minister on Thursday by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. BJP leader and former CM Devendra Fadnavis took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister. Earlier, Union Minister Amit Shah tweeted out, saying Fadnavis had joined the government upon request from BJP National President JP Nadda.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished the duo well in their new roles. "I would like to congratulate Shri @mieknathshinde Ji on taking oath as Maharashtra CM. A grassroots level leader, he brings with him rich political, legislative and administrative experience. I am confident that he will work towards taking Maharashtra to greater heights" he tweeted out.
"Congratulations to Shri @Dev_Fadnavis Ji on taking oath as Maharashtra Deputy CM. He is an inspiration for every BJP Karyakarta. His experience and expertise will be an asset for the Government. I am certain he will further strengthen Maharashtra’s growth trajectory" the PM said regarding Fadnavis.
No one had expected such a turnaround as Fadnavis was touted to be the next CM with Shinde playing the second fiddle. That was until Fadnavis pulled the masterstroke leaving all political pundits scratching their heads. Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde met Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Thursday and staked claim to power. Later in a press briefing, Fadnavis said that Shinde was going to be the next Maharashtra Chief Minister. The oath-taking ceremony is slated for 7:30 pm today.
"In 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, people voted for BJP-Shiv Sena alliance but that mandate was insulted and Maha Vikas Aghadi government was formed," Fadnavis said in the press briefing. He added: "The decision that we have taken is committed to Balasaheb's Hindutva and for the development work in the constituencies of our MLAs. We have 50 MLAs with us."
Also read: The rise of Eknath Shinde, the man behind the Maharashtra political crisis
Thanking him for his 'big heart', Shinde said that Fadnavis could have become chief minister by the numbers. "But he showed a high heart and I thank him," he said. "We went to former CM Thackeray with our constituency's grievances and development work along with advising him on the need for improvement as we started realizing that it would be difficult for us to win the next elections. We demanded a natural alliance with BJP," Shinde said.
Shinde said that a total of 50 MLAs are with him, including 40 MLAs from Shiv Sena. "We have fought this battle so far with their help...I will not let even a scratch mar the trust that these 50 people have placed in me - let alone break that trust," he said. Shinde thanked PM Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and other BJP leaders for "showing generosity".
"I express my gratitude to him along with PM Modi, Amit Shah & other BJP leaders that they showed generosity and made Balasaheb's Sainik (party-worker) the CM of the state," he said.
