Nagpur, 30 June: Eknath Sambhaji Shinde took oath as new Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis became the new Deputy Chief Minister.
The oath was administered by the Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at Raj Bhavan, around 7.30 pm on Thursday today.
The political developments in Maharashtra during the last few hours were indeed surprising and even in political affairs failed to predict the experts result. First Fadnavis himself proposed the name of Shinde as the Chief Minister, when he himself was expected to hold chief ministership.
Fadnavis also announced that he would not be a part of the government and would support the government from outside.
Surprisingly in the next hour, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief J P Nadda made a statement requesting Fadnavis to be in the government as Deputy CM. Although Nadda called it a request, it was an indeed a directive from the party high command. Fadnavis had to accept it. Within minutes union Minister Amit Shah announced that Fadnavis has agreed to be the Deputy Chief Minister.
Shiv Sena MLA Shinde, who broke away from the leadership of former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, took oath by stating that he is taking oath with the blessings of late founder of Shiv Sena Balasaheb Thackeray and his political Guru Anand Dighe.
Shinde has not resigned from Shiv Sena and claims that he has the majority of legislators from the party with him indicating that it is his real Shiv Sena.
