MUMBAI: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray was sworn-in as the 18th Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Thursday evening, bringing an end to weeks of political instability and stunning turnarounds in the state’s politics.
State’s Governor BS Koshyari administered the oath of office and secrecy to Uddhav Thackeray, 59, who sported a striking saffron-colored ‘kurta-pyjama’ at a spectacular oath-taking ceremony at the iconic Shivaji Park, where his father Bal Thackeray had addressed his first rally to announce the birth of the Shiv Sena in 1966.
Uddhav’s ascension to the top post came after political tussle and hectic negotiations between the Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress to form a coalition government after Sena decided to snap its ties with BJP over the chief minister’s post.
Saying that Uddhav Thackeray has betrayed the mandate of the people of Maharashtra, a Hindu Mahasabha leader has filed a plea in the Supreme Court seeking to term the Maharashtra government as invalid.
Goa Forward Party president and ex-Dy CM of Goa, Vijai Sardesai along with three MLAs, is forming an alliance with the Shiv Sena. A new political front is taking shape in Goa, just like it happened in Maharashtra. Soon you will see another magic happening in Goa as well, says Sanjay Raut.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut says, “We will build a non-BJP pan India front.”
“We have met the ex-deputy CM and ex-MLAs of Goa. Talks of alliance are going on. After Goa, we will move outside and form a non-BJP front,” he added.
After proving the majority on the floor of the House, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led government will expand cabinet on December 3, according to sources.
Sources also suggest that NCP leader Ajit Pawar will take oath as Deputy Chief Minister then.
Name of Devendra Fadnavis has been replaced by Uddhav Thackeray’s name on the nameplate outside Chief Minister’s Office in Mantralaya.
It now says, Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, Chief Minister.
Following the government formation in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut took to Twitter and said in Hindi, “In the game of chess, we play such a move that the pawn trumps the King.”
Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a plea filed by a member of Hindu Mahasabha against the formation of a government by Uddhav Thackeray in Maharashtra.
The plea seeks to term the Maharashtra government “invalid” while asserting that the government was formed by betraying the mandate of the people in the state.