Mumbai, 5 Dec. 24: Thirteen days after the Maharashtra election results, the new government will be sworn in today at 5:30 PM at Azad Maidan. BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis will assume office as Chief Minister for the third time, while NCP’s Ajit Pawar and Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde will take oath as Deputy Chief Ministers.
Ajit Pawar will become Deputy Chief Minister for a record sixth time, and Shinde transitions from Chief Minister to Deputy CM, the second such leader after Fadnavis to do so.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP President JP Nadda, and several BJP leaders are expected to attend the ceremony. Invitations have also been extended to Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states, along with 400 saints and dignitaries from across the country.
According to sources, 31 ministers are likely to be sworn in, including 19 from BJP, 7 from NCP, and 5 from Shiv Sena. The Mahayuti alliance, comprising BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), and NCP (Pawar faction), secured a commanding majority of 230 seats in the November 23 election results.