Uddhav Thackeray sworn in as 18th chief minister of Maharashtra
Six MLAs—two each from Sena, NCP and Congress—were also sworn in as ministers
Six MLAs—two each from Sena, NCP and Congress—were also sworn in as ministers
Six MLAs—two each from Sena, NCP and Congress—were also sworn in as ministers
Six MLAs—two each from Sena, NCP and Congress—were also sworn in as ministers
Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray took oath as the 17th chief minister of Maharashtra at a grand ceremony held at Central Shivaji Park in Mumbai on Thursday evening. Thackeray was administered oath by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at 6.45 pm.
Thackeray will lead the government of Maharashtra Vika Aghadi—an alliance of the Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress—which was formed after over a month-long political uncertainty in the state.
Thursday's swearing-in was different from the previous occasions in Maharashtra politics given that Uddhav is the first Thackeray from his clan who is taking oath as a public representative and, that too, as the CM.
Shivsainiks are emotionally connected to Shivaji Park where party founder late Bal Thackeray used to address Dussehra rallies, a tradition that is still kept alive by his son, Uddhav.
The decision to elect Thackeray as nominee for CM's post was taken at a joint meeting of the three parties at a Mumbai hotel, hours after the four-day-old BJP government led by Devendra Fadnavis and supported by NCP's Ajit Pawar collapsed.
Fadnavis took oath as the CM and Ajit as deputy CM in a dramatic move on Saturday morning even as the Aghadi parties were holding hectic parleys to form government in the state.
Maharashtra was placed under President's Rule as no party or alliance could form a government for want of requisite numbers even weeks after the results of the assembly polls were declared on October 24.
After felling out with its ally BJP over the demand for the post of the chief minister for an equal term, the Shiv Sena reached out to the Congress-NCP combine for support.
In the 288-member Assembly, the BJP has 105 MLAs, the Shiv Sena 56, the NCP 54 and the Congress 44. The halfway mark is 145.