Devendra Fadnavis to Be Sworn in as Chief Minister of Maharashtra at 5.30 PM, with Attendance from Ladki Bahins & Farmers
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Mumbai, Dec 5 (NationPress) The Chief Minister and two Deputy Chief Ministers of Maharashtra will be sworn in at 5.30 p.m. during a grand swearing-in ceremony at Azad Maidan, with the esteemed presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Devendra Fadnavis, who has been unanimously chosen as the leader of the BJP legislature party, will take the oath of office and secrecy as the Maharashtra Chief Minister for the third time. Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar will assume their roles as the Deputy Chief Ministers. The oath will be administered by Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan.
Fadnavis is expected to expand his cabinet next week, as the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP are yet to agree on the distribution of cabinet positions and the allocation of ministries. This expansion is anticipated to occur on December 11 or 12 following a three-day session of the state Assembly scheduled for December 7 to 9 in Mumbai.
Shinde, initially hesitant about joining the cabinet, ultimately consented after Fadnavis's discussions with him on Tuesday and Wednesday, emphasizing the importance of his involvement in the Mahayuti government, especially following their significant electoral victory. Shinde's decision was also influenced by numerous Shiv Sena leaders and former ministers who urged him to participate rather than remain detached while focusing on party organization.
As for Ajit Pawar, he had already pledged his party's support to Fadnavis as Chief Minister. Furthermore, after Fadnavis approached the Governor for government formation, Ajit Pawar confirmed his oath on Thursday, despite Shinde’s indecision. Ajit Pawar is set to make history by becoming Deputy Chief Minister for the sixth time.
Preparations at Azad Maidan for the swearing-in ceremony are in full swing, with expected attendance from PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, several Union Ministers, BJP President J.P. Nadda, and chief ministers from 19 BJP-ruled states along with Mahayuti leaders and workers from all over Maharashtra. A remarkable turnout of over 10,000 Ladki Bahins and 2,000 farmers is anticipated, contributing to an overall expected crowd of 40,000.
Members of cooperative societies, instrumental in the BJP and Mahayuti's significant victory, will also be present, with around 5,000 chairpersons and secretaries in attendance. Special arrangements are being made for approximately 2,000 VVIPs and VIPs. The swearing-in event will be broadcast live and displayed on LED screens at various locations throughout Maharashtra. Invitations have been extended to prominent politicians like Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, and leading industrialists including Mukesh Ambani.
Nearly 100 saints, influencers, professionals—including doctors and chartered accountants—and Bollywood and Marathi film stars are also invited to the swearing-in ceremony.
About 10,000 BJP workers will don T-shirts featuring the slogan 'Ek Hai To Safe Hai'. Prior to the swearing-in, performances by Marathi and Hindi singers are planned at the venue.
Security measures have been significantly enhanced around Azad Maidan, located near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in South Mumbai. Over 5,000 police personnel have been deployed, alongside state reserve police, anti-riot forces, and rapid action teams. Five additional police commissioners, 15 deputy commissioners, and 29 assistant commissioners have been appointed to oversee security arrangements, ensuring a smooth and incident-free swearing-in event. Police will also utilize drones for vigilant monitoring.
