Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde takes oath as new CM of Maharashtra

After the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has taken the oath as the new chief minister of Maharashtra today, July 1. This comes just a day after former CM Uddhav Thackeray resigned from his post. 

Eknath Shinde was sworn in as the new chief minister of Maharashtra today at 7:30 pm, as announced earlier. Shinde took the oath for the top post in the state in the presence of Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.

Shinde began by paying tributes to late Shiv Sena leaders Bal Thackeray and Anand Dighe. His supporters shouted slogans hailing Thackeray and Dighe as he finished taking the oath.

Shorty after Shinde assumed the post of Maharashtra CM, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis took the oath as the new deputy chief minister of the state. Earlier, it was speculated that Fadnavis will be the Chief Minister while Shinde will be the deputy CM of Maharashtra.

This comes just a day after former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray resigned from his post ahead of a floor test ordered against the MVA alliance. Eknath Shinde had bagged the support of the majority of Shiv Sena MLAs, ousting Thackeray from the top post.

Shinde, along with over 40 rebel MLAs, had set up camp in BJP-ruled Assam, joining hands with the Bhartiya Janta Party to topple the MVA government in Maharashtra. The new Maharashtra cabinet is set to have both Shiv Sena and Maharashtra leaders, as per Fadnavis.

Earlier on Thursday, BJP president J P Nadda said Fadnavis would be part of the new Maharashtra cabinet led by Shinde, minutes after Fadnavis announced he will not be in the government.

Addressing a press conference alongside Devendra Fadnavis, Shinde had said that the BJP leader has a “big heart” for giving him the CM post. He said, “Leaders don’t give up their Panchayat seat for anyone, let alone the CM post. I will not let Devendra Fadnavis down.”

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