Maharashtra Crisis | Eknath Shinde sworn in as Maharashtra Chief Minister; Devendra Fadnavis is the Deputy Chief Minister

Mumbai: Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has been sworn in as Maharashtra Chief Minister. BJP leader and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has been sworn in as deputy chief minister. Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari administered the oath of office at the Raj Bhavan. Shinde became the 20th Chief Minister of Maharashtra after dramatic and rebellious moves.

The two-and-a-half-year-old Mahavikas Aghadi-led coalition government led by Uddhav Thackeray was overthrown by the Maharashtra government and Eknath Shinde was ousted. Shinde, who was in Goa with the rebel MLAs, arrived in Mumbai this afternoon with Fadnavis to meet the governor and demand the formation of a government. Everyone thought that Fadnavis would be the Chief Minister and Shinde the Deputy Chief Minister.

But unexpectedly, Fadnavis Shinde announced that he would be the next Chief Minister. The cabinet expansion will take place in the next few days. Fadnavis initially said he would not be part of the government, but was sworn in as deputy chief minister through the intervention of the national leadership.

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The two-and-a-half-year-old Mahavikas Aghadi coalition government resigned yesterday. Uddhav Thackeray resigns without waiting for confidence vote Devendra Fadnavis and Shinde met with the governor and demanded the formation of a government with the support of dissidents and independents. Shinde and Fadnavis arrived at the palace in the same vehicle and met the governor.

“The BJP and the Shiv Sena have won the 2019 assembly elections in an alliance. The required majority was obtained. The Shiv Sena had hoped to form a government but decided to form an alliance with Balasaheb’s opponents, ” Devendra Fadnavis said. “The Shiv Sena has formed an alliance with those who oppose Hindutva and Veer Savarkar. The Shiv Sena had insulted the people. On the one hand, the Shiv Sena opposed Dawood Ibrahim. But a man who went to jail for helping him was made a minister, ” Devendra Fadnavis alleged.

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Uddhav Thackeray had earlier challenged the BJP to appoint a Shiv Sena leader as chief minister. On his return to Mumbai, Shinde visited Fadhna’s residence and met him. The two then went to see the governor. They informed the governor that they had the support of 150 MLAs.

The BJP is projected to have 27 and the Shinde faction 15 ministers each. Shinde, who arrived at a five-star hotel in Goa from Guwahati in Assam yesterday evening, was initially scheduled to arrive in Mumbai this morning. Following Uddhav’s resignation, they postponed their departure from Goa. When the Shiv Sena rebels, the BJP and their allies join, there will be 162. An absolute majority requires the support of 144 people.

The BJP has 106 MLAs. It has the support of 12 independents and 39 Shiv Sena rebels. The Congress has 44 members and the NCP 53 members. There are also 16 Shiv Sena MLAs who support Uddhav.