Sat Nov 30 16:19:23 UTC 2024: ## Maharashtra’s New Government to be Sworn In, Chief Minister Remains Unnamed
**Mumbai, November 30, 2024** – The BJP has announced the swearing-in ceremony for Maharashtra’s new cabinet will take place on December 5th at 5 PM at Azad Maidan in Mumbai. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in attendance, according to BJP Maharashtra chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule. However, the crucial question of who will lead the state as Chief Minister remains unanswered, six days after election results were declared.
The BJP, the single largest party with 132 seats, has yet to hold a meeting of its elected MLAs or appoint a legislature party leader. Caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, currently in his native village, has reportedly fallen ill, fueling speculation about his discontent with the government’s formation.
The Mahayuti alliance, comprising BJP, Shinde-led Shiv Sena (57 seats), and Ajit Pawar’s NCP (41 seats), holds a comfortable majority with 230 seats in the 288-member assembly. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), consisting of Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (20 seats), Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction (10 seats), and the Congress (16 seats), secured only 46 seats.
While intense discussions are underway in Delhi and Mumbai, the Chief Minister’s post remains undecided. Outgoing Chief Minister Shinde has declared he will abide by the BJP’s decision, paving the way for either Devendra Fadnavis, a former Chief Minister and deputy CM, or a potential newcomer. Ajit Pawar’s NCP has already expressed its support for Fadnavis. Further adding to the speculation, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale predicted Fadnavis’s appointment earlier this week. The upcoming ceremony promises to finally resolve the lingering question of Maharashtra’s next leader.
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