Mumbai, India: In a grand swearing-in ceremony at Mumbai’s iconic Azad Maidan, Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as Maharashtra’s Chief Minister for the third time. Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and NCP leader Ajit Pawar were also appointed as Deputy Chief Ministers, solidifying the leadership of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance.
The event was attended by over 42,000 people, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers, and other dignitaries. Prominent guests such as Mukesh Ambani, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Sachin Tendulkar also graced the occasion.
The BJP-led Mahayuti coalition, comprising BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, holds a commanding majority of 230 seats in the Maharashtra Assembly, with BJP securing 132 of them. The government formation follows two weeks of intense negotiations among alliance members.
Special arrangements at the venue included seating for 40,000 BJP supporters and 2,000 VVIPs, with over 4,000 police personnel deployed to ensure security.
This marks Fadnavis’ third term as Chief Minister. His earlier tenures include leading the BJP-Shiv Sena government from 2014 to 2019 and a brief stint in 2019 with Ajit Pawar as his deputy, which ended within 72 hours due to insufficient support for the coalition.
The formation of this new government symbolizes a strengthened Mahayuti alliance, with an agenda focused on development and stability in Maharashtra.