Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde on June 30 took oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of the state.
Shinde and Fadnavis held their first cabinet meeting shortly after taking their oaths at the Raj Bhavan and decided to call a special session of the state Assembly on July 2 and 3. The newly formed government will face a trust vote in the Assembly, as well as the election of a new Speaker of the House.
New Maharashtra CM
Eknath Shinde flew from Goa to Mumbai on June 30 and met Devendra Fadnavis at his residence. Following the meeting, they left for Raj Bhavan to meet with Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and stake their claim to form the Maharashtra government.
While it was being speculated that Devendra Fadnavis will return as the Maharashtra CM, in an unexpected turn of events, he announced that Eknath Shinde would be the next CM. Addressing a press conference, Fadnavis also said that he won’t be joining the new government but will support and take care of it from the outside.
Fadnavis takes U-Turn
However, within an hour, BJP president JP Nadda said that the party high command wanted Devendra Fadnavis to become the deputy chief minister. Subsequently, Fadnavis agreed to take up the new role.
Shinde began by paying tributes to late Shiv Sena leaders Bal Thackeray and Anand Dighe. His supporters shouted slogans hailing Bal Thackeray and Anand Dighe as he finished taking the oath.
“Development of the state is my priority. I will take all sections of society along with me,” Shinde said after the ceremony.
Shinde, Fadnavis hold first Cabinet meet
Soon after the oath-taking ceremony, Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis held their first cabinet meeting. They announced a special Assembly session on July 2 and 3. Elections for the new speaker, as well as a vote of confidence, will be held.
Metro car shed to shift back to Aarey Colony
According to sources, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has asked his legal team to inform the court that the metro car shed will be shifted back to Aarey Colony. Earlier, the Uddhav government had shifted it to Kanjurmarg.
