Devendra Fadnavis to take oath as Maharashtra CM today, Eknath Shinde drags out suspense on his role

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who helped pull off the BJP’s historic 132-seat win in Maharashtra, will be present for the swearing-in.

Earlier, Shinde, who is functioning as the caretaker CM, Fadnavis and Pawar together met Governor C P Radhakrishnan and staked claim to form the government with letters of support from their MLAs.

Fadnavis, who visited Shinde on Tuesday evening to iron out the final wrinkles in the way of his becoming CM, presented a united front, telling the media in front of the Raj Bhavan: “The CM / DyCM posts are technical arrangements. All three of us will take decisions in the larger interest of Maharashtra. Even in the past, we took collective decisions and worked as a team.”

He added: “I personally requested Eknath Shinde to be a part of the government. I told him that it is the wish of BJP and Shiv Sena members too that he should become a part of the Mahayuti government.”

Sources in the Sena said that Shinde may be holding out but has come around to the idea of serving as Deputy CM.

In his remarks to the media after meeting the Governor, Shinde pledged his party’s support to Fadnavis as CM, adding: “Exactly, two-and-a-half years ago, it was at this very place that Fadnavis announced my name for CM post. For Fadnavis who had served as CM of Maharashtra in the past, it was his generosity to do so. Today, I am happy to support and propose his name for the CM post.”

Underplaying differences between the partners, the Sena leader said: “Government formation is being done in a cordial and friendly manner.”

On his sudden decision to head off to his village in Satara in the middle of talks for government formation, Shinde said he had gone there to “take rest”. “I am fine now, but for a little sore throat.”

At a joint press conference addressed by Fadnavis, Pawar and him later on Wednesday, Shinde said he would take a call on joining the government “in the evening”. Till reports last came in, that confirmation was awaited.

That Fadnavis would be the CM after all, and not be denied the post again, was clear once the BJP core committee early on Wednesday approved his name. The 132-member BJP legislature party then unanimously chose him as its leader.

Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani, deputed as central observers, were present at both the meetings.

Addressing the legislature party after it cleared the way for him to be CM, Fadnavis laid the credit at the PM’s door. “The Assembly elections were an eye-opener and established ‘Ek hain toh safe hain, Modi hai toh mumkin hai’,” he said.

Fadnavis added: “I express my gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for giving an ordinary karyakarta like me the opportunity to become CM for the third time (counting the short, 80-hour government Fadnavis formed with Ajit Pawar). I also express thanks to Home Minister Amit Shah, party president J P Nadda and all senior leaders who stood by us.”

Speaking about the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government’s tenure from 2019 to 2022, he said: “Those were trying times. The MVA subjected our leaders and workers to harassment and hardships by framing them in false cases… Yet, all our karyakartas and leaders together overcame the hurdles.”

Fadnavis said his government would work “24/7 for the welfare of people across segments, caste, communities and religion, backward and oppressed classes”.