Maharashtra Political Crisis Updates: Eknath Shinde Takes Oath as CM, Devendra Fadnavis as His Deputy; New Govt Holds First Cabinet Meeting

The newly-formed Maharashtra government has directed the state’s Advocate General that the metro car shed will be built in Aarey itself. The side of the government should be presented before the court in this regard.

Former chief minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray has congratulated Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis for taking oath as CM and Deputy CM of the state, respectively.

Raj Bhavan has asked new Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde to prove his majority in the House. The state cabinet has decided to call special session of the assembly on July 2 and July 3. On the first day of the session, Speaker elections will be conducted. Speaker’s post is vacant since Nana Patole’s resignation.

First cabinet meeting of the new Maharashtra government was held and was chaired by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis soon after taking oath. They reviewed rains, crop schemes and Covid-19 situation in the state.

Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath today said politics of bargaining was being played out in Maharashtra, where Shiv Sena rebel leader Eknath Shinde has taken over as the new chief minister after raising a banner of revolt against his party that brought down the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. Nath, a former CM of Madhya Pradesh, was sent to Mumbai as an AICC observer after crisis hit the Shiv Sena-led MVA government last week. The Congress was a part of the MVA government, which also included the Sharad Pawar-led NCP. “Yeh saudebaji ki rajniti hai’ (This is politics of bargaining), the Congress leader told reporters when asked about the latest political developments in Maharashtra. Shinde was sworn-in as the new chief minister of Maharashtra and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis as deputy CM in Mumbai on Thursday evening.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis on being sworn in as the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, respectively.

Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde started his oath with paying tribute to party patriarch Bal Thackeray and late Sena leader Anand Dighe.

Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has taken oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis has been sworn-in as the Deputy Chief Minister.

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and CM-designate Eknath Shinde have arrived in Raj Bhawan for the swearing-in ceremony.

BJP leader and former chief minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis has decided to join the state government on the request of BJP national president JP Nadda, said Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He also tweeted that Fadnavis’s decision shows his “sense of service” towards the people of the state.

Call it a surprise or a masterstroke, the BJP, with its decision to elevate rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde — and not Devendra Fadnavis — as chief minister, has changed the optics game in Maharashtra. With its subtle support to the Shinde camp — whether in Mumbai where the saffron party said it would “wait and watch” or Guwahati where the rebel MLAs were holed up as the struggle for the chief minister’s crown continued — the BJP has made it clear that the reason for bringing about this coup was not the greed for power. Read More

BJP national president JP Nadda said, “Devendra Fadnavis has announced that he will stay out of the Government and we will give support to Eknath Shinde. This shows the character of our party and our leader that we are for ideology and not for post. BJP central leadership has decided that Devendra ji should be part of the government and we have requested him personally also and has been directed to be Deputy CM.”

BJP sources told CNN-News18 that important cabinet berths will be with BJP.

The political turmoil that led to Uddhav Thackeray’s resignation as Chief Minister and paved the power path for the BJP and Shiv Sena faction led by Eknath Shinde has established former CM Devendra Fadnavis as the person in control of political dynamics in the state. Considered close to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Fadnavis has made amends in how he does politics and vowed to come back to power despite the embarrassment he faced after NCP’s Ajit Pawar ditched him in 2019 despite taking oath as his deputy. However, Fadnavis felt most cheated when Sena joined hands with the NCP and the Congress. Read More

Eknath Sambhaji Shinde, the man who triggered Maharashtra’s biggest political earthquake is now the Chief Minister of the state. From leading a rebellion after feeling side-lined by the Thackerays to engineering a split in the party and forcing Uddhav Thackeray to step down, Shinde is the man who rose from humble beginnings of being an auto-rickshaw driver. Through sheer determination, sharp mind and strategic planning he reached the pinnacle of the state’s political system. Read More

Maharashtra CM-designate Eknath Shinde has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President JP Nadda, BJP leaders Devendra Fadnavis and Chandrakant Patil.

In a shocking twist to the week-long Maharashtra political tussle, Shiv Sena strongman Eknath Shinde was announced as the chief minister by Devendra Fadnavis, who was earlier speculated to occupy the top post. Fadnavis, who was Uddhav’s predecessor, was believed to be appointed as the CM with Shinde as his deputy. But in a shocker, the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra assembly announced that he won’t be a part of the government, but would extend his full support. “I will stay out of power,” Fadnavis said. Read More

“We went to former CM Uddhav Thackeray with our constituency’s grievances and development work along with advising him on need for improvement as we started realising that it would be difficult for us to win the next elections. We demanded for a natural alliance with BJP. BJP has 120 MLAs but despite that Devendra Fadnavis didn’t take the post of CM. I express my gratitude to him along with PM Modi, Amit Shah and other BJP leaders that they showed generosity and made Balasaheb’s Sainik (party-worker) the CM of the state. A total of 50 MLAs are with us, including 40 MLAs from Shiv Sena. We have fought this battle so far with their help. I will not let even a scratch mar the trust that these 50 people have placed in me – let alone break that trust,” said Maharashtra Chief Minister-designate Eknath Shinde. He will take oath today at 7:30 pm.