The much-awaited swearing-in ceremony for Maharashtra’s 31st Chief Minister is likely to take place on 5 December at 1 PM at Azad Maidan, near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in south Mumbai.
Rahul Narwekar, BJP MLA and Speaker of the 14th Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, made the announcement on Saturday.
The event will likely draw major political figures, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, central ministers, and Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states likely to attend.
Although the BJP has not yet formally elected Devendra Fadnavis as the leader of the legislature party, sources within the party indicate that he will be sworn in as the Chief Minister for the third time.
Fadnavis previously led the state between 2014 and 2019, and briefly served as Chief Minister in an alliance with Ajit Pawar in 2019.
BJP sources have ruled out other names, including Union Minister Muralidhar Mohol, Chandrakant Patil, and Vinod Tawde, stating that Fadnavis is the natural choice for the post.
Narwekar’s statement is significant, as the BJP has yet to convene its legislators to formally elect Fadnavis as their leader.
The meeting, expected to occur on Monday with central observers present, will pave the way for Fadnavis, along with allies Shiv Sena and NCP, to stake their claim for government formation with Governor CP Radhakrishnan.
The recent state elections, held on 20 November and concluded on 23 November, saw a decisive victory for the MahaYuti alliance, with the BJP winning a record 132 seats, Shiv Sena securing 57, and NCP 41.
Despite Shiv Sena’s role under Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in the alliance, the BJP has made it clear that it intends to retain the CM’s post.
MahaYuti Cabinet Discussions Ongoing; Agreement Expected Next Week
MahaYuti sources suggest that discussions on cabinet allocations and ministerial posts are ongoing, with a final agreement likely by early next week.
In preparation for the event, State BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule conducted an online meeting with newly elected MLAs, outlining guidelines for the government formation. He also emphasized the attendance of BJP office-bearers from all 36 districts at the ceremony.
Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) held a core committee meeting in Nagpur on Saturday, highlighting the group’s key role in supporting the BJP’s electoral campaign in the state.
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