Thu Dec 05 13:38:11 UTC 2024: ## Maharashtra Gets New Government: Fadnavis Sworn in as CM for Third Time, Shinde and Pawar as Deputy CMs
**Mumbai, December 2, 2024** – Thirteen days after the Maharashtra Assembly election results, Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as Chief Minister for the third time, making him the first BJP leader to achieve this feat. The ceremony, held at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, saw the simultaneous swearing-in of two Deputy Chief Ministers: Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar.
Fadnavis, after taking the oath, immediately visited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to express his gratitude. Shinde, in his oath-taking speech, paid tribute to Balasaheb Thackeray and Anand Dighe, and thanked PM Modi and Amit Shah. Pawar’s swearing-in marks his sixth term as Deputy CM, a unique achievement as he has served in both the Maha Vikas Aghadi and the current Mahayuti government coalitions.
The swearing-in ceremony, attended by prominent figures including PM Modi, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, and several other NDA Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers, lasted approximately 30 minutes. No other ministers were sworn in at this ceremony, although a cabinet distribution formula of one minister for every six MLAs has been reportedly agreed upon, potentially allocating ministerial berths to BJP (20-22), the Shinde faction (12), and the Ajit Pawar faction (9-10). A subsequent Mahayuti meeting is planned to finalize the cabinet formation.
The Mahayuti alliance secured a resounding victory with 230 seats (BJP 132, Shiv Sena 57, NCP 41), significantly surpassing the majority mark of 145, against the MVA’s 46 seats. The event drew a large crowd including Bollywood celebrities like Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Shahrukh Khan and Sanjay Dutt, and prominent business personalities. Stringent security measures were in place, with a large police presence and Azad Maidan declared a no-fly zone.
The formation of this government follows intense negotiations and speculation after the election results. The final decision regarding the ministerial appointments is expected shortly.
First Piper 