Maharashtra, 4 December
BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis is set to be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra for the third time on Thursday, December 5, following a unanimous decision during a BJP core committee meeting on Wednesday. His name was finalised after extensive deliberations and discussions within the party’s senior leadership.
The core committee meeting, attended by Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, paved the way for this decision. Sitharaman and Rupani, serving as central observers, will oversee the Maharashtra Legislature Party meeting scheduled ahead of the oath-taking ceremony.
Fadnavis, a seasoned politician and prominent BJP figure, will take the oath of office in a ceremony at Azad Maidan, Mumbai, at 5 PM. Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, the coalition partners representing the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) and the NCP (Pawar faction), are expected to be sworn in as Deputy Chief Ministers during the event. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also likely to attend this significant political gathering.
This announcement follows the decisive victory of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in the Maharashtra Assembly elections held on November 20. The coalition, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), and the NCP (Pawar faction), secured an overwhelming 232 out of 288 seats, with the BJP alone winning 132 seats—its best performance in the state’s history.
Despite the alliance’s electoral success, the leadership question posed a temporary hurdle. Initially, Eknath Shinde had expressed his desire to continue as Chief Minister. However, in a significant development last week, Shinde announced his readiness to step aside for the unity of the alliance, emphasizing his respect for the decisions of Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. This paved the way for Fadnavis’s return as Chief Minister.
Recognized as the driving force behind the BJP’s exceptional electoral performance in Maharashtra, Fadnavis enjoys strong support from both the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and senior BJP leaders. His return is seen as a strategic move to further consolidate the party’s position in the state.
The new government under Fadnavis is expected to focus on development, stability, and strengthening the coalition’s governance framework, marking a new chapter in Maharashtra’s political landscape.
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