Maharashtra CM Is a 'Technical Term' Among Us Three: Devendra Fadnavis, Set To Take Oath With Ajit Pawar As Deputy

Devendra Fadnavis, set to take oath as Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) tomorrow (5 December), said that he requested caretaker CM and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde to remain part of the Mahayuti government.

Notably, Shinde had earlier said that Shiv Sena was not creating any obstruction in the selection of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) CM but then isolated himself for some time.

Fadnavis said that it was the wish of Shiv Sena and Mahayuti members of the legislative assembly (MLA) that Shinde remains part of the government and recalled the coordination in the last two-and-a-half years.

"This (CM) post is a technical term among us three (Fadnavis, Shinde and Ajit Pawar). We will work together in taking all decisions and take Maharashtra to new heights," the CM-elect said.

Fadnavis thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for choosing 'a worker like him' for the leadership role. He also thanked BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The BJP leader further thanked other Union Ministers like Ramnath Athawale, Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari and promised a good government for Maharashtra, thanking the state's people.

Ajit Pawar is set to take oath as the Deputy CM tomorrow. He said that activities related to the party will be handled by (BJP chief) Chandrashekhar Bawankule and Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP) Sunil Tatkare.

The names of other leaders who will take oath as Cabinet Ministers have not been decided yet and evening meetings are planned to take the decision. Similarly, a decision on Shinde's position has not been taken.