Amid uncertainty about who will take the oath, state BJP head Chandrashekhar Bawankule declared that the new Maharashtra chief minister would be sworn in on December 5 at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan.
The BJP leader posted on X, “Oath-taking ceremony of the Maha-Yuti Government in Maharashtra
It will be held in the presence of the pride of the world, Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at 5 PM at Azad Maidan, Mumbai”.
Days after the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti alliance won a huge victory in the state assembly elections, Bawankule’s statement raises more questions about the chief minister selection.
Shinde, Fadnavis, Pawar met Shah and Nadda
In order to negotiate the formation of the state’s administration, interim chief minister Eknath Shinde, his deputy Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar met with Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda on Thursday.
As Eknath Shinde made his way to his hometown in Satara district, a crucial Mahayuti alliance meeting was postponed and rescheduled for Sunday.
With 132 seats, the BJP became the single largest party. The NCP and its allies Shiv Sena came in second and third, respectively, with 41 and 57 seats.
Sanjay Shirsat, a senior Shiv Sena leader, informed ANI on Saturday that Shinde will make a big decision by Sunday.
The Sena leader said, “According to me, whenever Eknath Shinde thinks that he needs some time to think he goes to his native village. By tomorrow evening, he will take a big decision. It can be anything, a political decision…. Everything will be cleared by Monday evening… The oath-taking ceremony should be held before the 5th of December as we have preparations in this manner…”.
Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, considered a frontrunner for the top post, said,”In our Mahayuti alliance, there has never been a difference of opinion. We have always made decisions collectively. Before the elections, we announced that the decision regarding the Chief Minister’s post would be taken collectively after the results.”
“A few people had doubts, but Eknath Shinde ji has clarified those today. We will soon meet our leaders and finalise the decision,” Fadnavis was quoted by ANI as saying.
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