Who will take oath alongside Fadnavis at Azad Maidan tomorrow?

Shiv Sena chief Uday Samant on Wednesday said that only the chief minister and two deputy chief ministers will take oath at the inauguration ceremony to be held on December 5 at the Azad Maidan in Mumbai.

IMAGE: Devendra Fadnavis to take oath as Maharashtra Chief Minister. Photography: ANI Photo

The decision on the modalities of the cabinet and portfolios will be taken later, he said.

Samant said Shiv Sena workers, MLAs and MLAs want Maharashtra caretaker chief minister Eknath Shinde to be the deputy chief minister, hinting that the latter may not be willing to take up this position.

Fadnavis was unanimously elected as leader of the Maharashtra BJP legislature on Wednesday, paving the way for his inauguration as chief minister for the third time. The inauguration ceremony will take place on Thursday at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a galaxy of NDA chief ministers.

“The information I have now is that the CM and two deputy CMs will take oath. The next decision (on cabinet formation and distribution of portfolios) will be taken by the three leaders (Fadnavis, Shinde and NCP chief Ajit Pawar),” Samant said. journalists.

“The three leaders will meet before going to the governor’s house (to demand formation of government in the state). They will talk to (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi and (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah and then make a decision,” he said. said.

“More than Eknath Shinde’s wish, we – around 60-61 MLAs – want him (Shinde) to lead us in the government. This is our firm stand. There are no ifs and buts on this. Shinde should become Deputy CM and this is the wish of Shiv Sainiks, MPs and MLAs,” he added.

His remarks suggest that Shinde may not be keen to join the government.

“It has been decided that there will be two deputy CMs. We have the right to put forward our point of view before our leader. Our insistence is for the good of Maharashtra,” Samant said.

According to him, Shinde said he would tour the state as Shiv Sena chief.

But the party wants him (Shinde) to be the deputy CM and part of the administration, the former minister added.

The BJP achieved remarkable success in the November 20 elections in Maharashtra, securing 132 of the 288 seats in the state Assembly, its best performance in the state so far.

Along with its allies Shiv Sena and NCP, the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition has an overwhelming majority of 230 seats.