Eknath Shinde sworn in as Maharashtra’s new CM and two time former CM Fadnavis as deputy CM. Finally Maharashtra rumblings come to an end !
The leader of the rebels of Shiv Sena, Eknath Sambhaji Shinde has been sworn in as the new chief minister of Maharashtra and the former CM twice, Devendra Fadnavis as deputy chief minister. The Governor of Maharashtra Bhagat Singh Koshiyari sworn them as the CM n deputy CM of Maharashtra after a week’s hectic manipulations by the rival factions of Shiv Sena from within and the main opposition party BJP.
The swearing in ceremony which started at 7.30 PM took just eight minutes to accord oath to the CM n deputy CM by the governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari who reached the venue at Governor’s house at the prescribed time. There were slogan shouting hailing the CM Eknath Shinde and deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis during the swearing in by their supporters hailing them. After the swearing in the Governor presented both the CM n deputy CM bouquets congratulating them on their new official assignments. The allocation of ministerial berths cabinet and state rank will be executed in the near future, after both BJP and Shiv Sena led by CM Eknath Shinde decide on this issue. According to the news the CM faction will get 8 cabinet berths and probably five state ministerial ranks. Rest will be given to BJP and few independents extending their support to the BJP and rebel Shiv Sena combine with the strength of 40 lawmakers including independent lawmakers. What is interesting in this whole development is that the former CM Fadnavis was the front runner for the CMs post but at the last moment the name of Eknath Shinde cropped up by the central intervention. The name of the new CM was announced by Devendra Fadnavis in a press conference in the presence of Eknath Shinde who was in quite a jubilant mode. Fadnavis had while assuring of his fullest cooperation to the new government said that he will not be holding any ministerial office. This led to BJP High command finally directing him to accept the post of deputy CM in the interest of the party and the state. This message was given by the national BJP president J. P. Nadda. Finally Fadnavis had to relent and he agreed to follow the dictates of the centre accepting the post of deputy CM working under his junior. This instance reminds us of Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath’s case when his name was declared at the last moment despite the then union railway minister Manoj Sinha’s name already cleared doing rounds in the media in 2017.
