Fadnavis back at helm in glittering ceremony

Devendra Fadnavis took oath as the 21st chief minister of Maharashtra in a glittering ceremony at Mumbai's Azad Maidan on Thursday evening, completing a remarkable career arc and bringing the curtain down on nearly two weeks of political machinations.

- Surendra P Gangan and Yogesh Naik

MUMBAI:

Fadnavis, 54, took oath alongside his two deputies - Shiv Sena chief and his former boss Eknath Shinde, and Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar. The event was attended by 35,000 people, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah, and a host of Union ministers, chief ministers, sports stars, stalwarts from the film industry, diplomats, and captains of industry.

Most prominent Opposition leaders were absent at the ceremony that was preceded by a musical performance by composer duo Ajay-Atul. No other ministers were sworn in.

Immediately after the ceremony, the triumvirate drove together to Mantralaya, the state secretariat, also in south Mumbai, where Fadnavis chaired the maiden cabinet meeting of the new regime and also addressed a press conference.

"Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar are with me. People have chosen us for stability, and we will work together," said Fadnavis.

"Our government will work with transparency for the wellfare of the people...We don't want to indulge in vendetta politics," he added, referring to the depleted numbers of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi in the assembly.

Modi extended his congratulations to Fadnavis, Shinde and Pawar.

"This team is a blend of experience and dynamism, and it is due to this team's collective efforts that the Mahayuti has got a historic mandate in Maharashtra. This team will do everything possible to fulfil the aspirations of the people of the state and to ensure there is good governance. I assure all possible support from the Centre in furthering development in Maharashtra," Modi said on X.