To every one’s surprise, just before the ceremony began, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray entered the packed stadium to greet Fadnavis. It was learnt that BJP president Amit Shah had called up Thackeray and requested him to attend the oath ceremony.
Other cabinet ministers who were sworn in along with Fadnavis on Friday were BJP core committee members Eknath Khadse, Sudhir Mungantiwar, Vinod Tawde and Pankaja Munde, former Mumbai BJP president Prakash Mansukhbhai Mehta, tribal leader from neighbouring Palghar district Vishnu Sawra, and Chandrakant Patil. Those who were sworn in as ministers of state were Dilip Nyandev Kamble and Vidya Jaiprakash Thakur. The oath was administered by Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao.
Fadnavis, a four-term MLA from Nagpur, after being sworn-in, took blessings of senior party leaders including L K Advani, Modi, Shah and Nitin Gadkari. Fadnavis’s cabinet colleagues, chief ministers of BJP-ruled states, corporate leaders, Bollywood stars and other celebrities were present on the occasion.
Nearly, 2,500 security personnel were deployed in and around the stadium. Over 1,000 traffic policemen were deployed to ensure smooth movement of VIP and VVIP vehicles around the stadium and along the roads leading to the venue from the domestic airport. The BJP had emerged as the single largest party in the 288-member Maharashtra assembly with 122 seats, but one of its MLAs Govind Rathod died, reducing the figure to 121. The Shiv Sena managed to secure 63 seats and stood second in the race. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which got 41 seats, has offered the BJP ‘external support’ to form the government in the state.
Many feel that NCP’s decision to abstain from voting has strengthened BJP’s confidence in going without Sena in the state. Earlier, Sena had deputed Rajya Sabha MP Anil Desai and senior leader Subhash Desai to strike a power-sharing deal with BJP leaders but all their efforts failed to bear fruits. After the swearing-in ceremony, Fadnavis held his first cabinet meeting in the evening.
Other cabinet ministers who were sworn in along with Fadnavis on Friday were BJP core committee members Eknath Khadse, Sudhir Mungantiwar, Vinod Tawde and Pankaja Munde, former Mumbai BJP president Prakash Mansukhbhai Mehta, tribal leader from neighbouring Palghar district Vishnu Sawra, and Chandrakant Patil. Those who were sworn in as ministers of state were Dilip Nyandev Kamble and Vidya Jaiprakash Thakur. The oath was administered by Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao.
Fadnavis, a four-term MLA from Nagpur, after being sworn-in, took blessings of senior party leaders including L K Advani, Modi, Shah and Nitin Gadkari. Fadnavis’s cabinet colleagues, chief ministers of BJP-ruled states, corporate leaders, Bollywood stars and other celebrities were present on the occasion.
Nearly, 2,500 security personnel were deployed in and around the stadium. Over 1,000 traffic policemen were deployed to ensure smooth movement of VIP and VVIP vehicles around the stadium and along the roads leading to the venue from the domestic airport. The BJP had emerged as the single largest party in the 288-member Maharashtra assembly with 122 seats, but one of its MLAs Govind Rathod died, reducing the figure to 121. The Shiv Sena managed to secure 63 seats and stood second in the race. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which got 41 seats, has offered the BJP ‘external support’ to form the government in the state.
Many feel that NCP’s decision to abstain from voting has strengthened BJP’s confidence in going without Sena in the state. Earlier, Sena had deputed Rajya Sabha MP Anil Desai and senior leader Subhash Desai to strike a power-sharing deal with BJP leaders but all their efforts failed to bear fruits. After the swearing-in ceremony, Fadnavis held his first cabinet meeting in the evening.