Guwahati: Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde took the oath of office as Maharashtra’s chief minister on Thursday.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government was overthrown by Shinde, who organised a rebellion against the Shiv Sena Sena. Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari swore Shinde in at Mumbai’s Raj Bhavan.
BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis also took an oath to serve as deputy chief minister.
Eknath Shinde will take over as the new state chief minister, and Fadnavis added that he won’t be a member of the administration earlier today.
Home Minister Amit Shah said in a tweet later that Fadnavis has decided to be part of the new government in Maharashtra in the interest of the people of the state after a word from BJP chief JP Nadda and congratulated him for his decision.
He said in a tweet that Fadnavis has shown a “big heart” and the decision reflects his true dedication and attitude of service towards Maharashtra.
“Devendra Fadnavis has made the decision to join the government in the benefit of Maharashtra and the state’s residents on the advice of BJP leader JP Nadda. This choice demonstrates his genuine commitment to Maharashtra and attitude of service. I’d want to extend my sincere congratulations to him,” Amit Shah said.
Nadda told ANI that Devendra Fadnavis has been asked to serve as deputy chief minister and that the party’s central leadership has agreed that he should be a part of the next Maharashtra cabinet.
Nadda said that Fadnavis had shown a “big heart” in announcing that he will personally not be part of the government and Shinde will get full support of BJP.
Nadda claimed that Devendra Fadnavis should join the government and take on responsibility after the BJP’s top leadership made this decision.
Shinde and Fadnavis met with Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari earlier in the day to push their claim to form the state’s government.
“2019 saw an alliance between BJP and Shiv Sena, and as a result, we won the necessary number of seats in the Assembly. We had hoped to become the government, but Shiv Sena decided to join forces with the people Balasaheb protested all of his life. The people’s will be insulted by the Shiv Sena.”
Shiv Sena MLAs pushed harder to have the alliance with Congress and the NCP disbanded, but Uddhav Thackeray disregarded them and prioritised the MVA coalition partners, the author continued.
Despite the BJP having 120 MLAs, the Shiv Sena leader said, Fadnavis did not accept the position of Chief Minister.
“Despite the fact that the BJP has 120 MLAs, Devendra Fadnavis chose not to run for chief minister. I want to thank him, along with PM Modi, Amit Shah, and other BJP leaders, for their compassion in appointing Balasaheb’s Sainik, a party worker, as the state’s chief executive officer,” he said.