Thu Dec 05 13:38:07 UTC 2024: **Maharashtra BJP Forms New Government with Fadnavis as CM, Shinde and Pawar as Deputy CMs**

MUMBAI, INDIA – Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as Maharashtra’s Chief Minister for a third term in a lavish ceremony at Azad Maidan today. The ceremony, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and numerous dignitaries including Bollywood celebrities and industrialists, marked the formation of a new government by the BJP and its allies.

Fadnavis’s swearing-in was accompanied by the oaths of two deputy chief ministers: Eknath Shinde of the Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar of the NCP. This coalition, dubbed the “Mahayuti,” commands a significant majority in the state assembly with 230 seats, following the BJP’s strong performance in the November 2023 elections (132 seats).

The event was marked by a large turnout, with attendees including Union ministers Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, and Rajnath Singh, along with several chief ministers from NDA-ruled states. High-profile figures from the business world (Mukesh Ambani, Kumar Mangalam Birla) and Bollywood (Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, etc.) were also present.

While the formation of the government was met with celebration by BJP supporters, some opposition figures voiced criticism, including allegations of betrayal of political allies and questioning the speed of the government formation process. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, for example, claimed that Eknath Shinde had been used and discarded by the BJP.

The new government’s immediate focus will be on fulfilling its promises to the people of Maharashtra. The BJP hailed the formation as bringing “stable government” and “faster development” to the state.

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