• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

After taking their oaths, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with his deputies Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde, assumed their official responsibilities at the state secretariat. In his initial action as Chief Minister, Fadnavis approved financial assistance to a family in Pune. 

Fadnavis also expressed hope that the state would not see the political turmoil it has seen over the last few years. He also asserted that the ruling Mahayuti would provide a stable government for five years.

"From 2019 to mid-2022, we saw a lot of changes. We hope that there are no more similar shocks in the future," Fadnais said in a veiled jab at the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. 

ALSO READ: Gurugram: 21-Year-Old Medical Assistant Dies In Suspected Suicide From Seventh Floor, Probe On

The 54-year-old, who was sworn in as the chief minister for the third time, downplayed the two-week delay in the government formation process. This delay had been caused by opposition from Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, which had pushed for the top post for its leader, arguing that his government's welfare measures played a key role in securing the ruling alliance's victory.

"In 2014 I was the Chief Minister and Shinde was with us. In 2019, for 72 hours, Ajit Dada and I were Chief Minister and deputy Chief Minister. After that, Shinde was the Chief Minister and Ajit Dada and I were Deputy Chief Ministers. Now I am the Chief Minister and they both are Deputy Chief Ministers," Fadnavis said.

"Our roles have changed but the direction is the same, the pace is the same... You will not see anything different when you talk about the relation between the three of us," he added.

The ‘shocker’ mentioned by Fadnavis referred to the dramatic events of 2023, when a split within the Shiv Sena, initiated by Shinde and his rebel faction, led to the collapse of the MVA government under Uddhav Thackeray. This political upheaval paved the way for Shinde to ally with the BJP, forming a new government. 

ALSO READ: Mahaparinirvan Diwas Holiday In Maharashtra: From Banks To Schools, Know What's Open And Closed Today

Later that year, Ajit Pawar's split from the Nationalist Congress Party, led by his uncle Sharad Pawar, further changed the political landscape, as he joined the ruling alliance.

In the recently concluded Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024, the Mahayuti alliance secured an impressive 230 out of 288 Assembly seats. The BJP emerged as the dominant party, winning 132 seats, marking its highest-ever performance in the state's history. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena and NCP claimed 57 and 41 seats, respectively.