November 15, 2024 01:46 (IST)
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Mumbai, Oct 31 (IBNS): 44-year-old BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis was sworn-in as Maharashtra's new Chief Minister on Friday at a gala ceremony at the Mumbai's iconic Wankhede Stadium, media reported.
Fadnavis took his oath in front of a packed stadium. A small number of cabinet ministers were also sworn in which was attended by many VIPs.
New cabinet included senior BJP leader Eknath Khadse and Pankaja Munde, daughter of deceased BJP leader Gopinath Munde. Both Khadse and Pankaja were sworn-in as cabinet ministers, media reported.
Several central ministers including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior BJP leaders, Bollywood celebrities, industrialists and who’s who from all sections of the society all attended the ceremony.
The list included Veteran BJP leader LK Advani, BJP President Amit Shah, BJP Leaders Shahnawaz Hussain & Om Mathur, NCP leader Praful Patel and outgoing CM Congress’ Prithviraj Chavan.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who was also in CM’s race, also shared the same dias, near to the small dias where new CM took oath.
After taking oath as the state’s 27th CM, Devendra Fadnavis was greeted by supporters.
Among the Bollywood celebrities who attended the event included Mugdha Godse, Poonam Dhillon among others.
But one of the main attractions of the ceremony was the presence of estranged ally Shiv Sena’s chief Udhav Thackeray, who was present at the oath taking ceremony along with son, Aditya.
Thackeray was seated five people away from the Prime Minister. Modi was seen shaking hands with Thackeray, after the latter arrived.
According to media reports, Shiv Sena chief decided to come to the event in the last minute after persuasion by Amit Shah, who called him and requested Thackeray to be at the event.
Earlier, Thackeray had decided to stay away from the swearing-in ceremony of first BJP Government in Maharashtra, after the BJP rejected his party's demand for its leaders to be included in the small cabinet that took oath on Friday.
BJP is still holding discussions with Shiv Sena over a possible coalition.
The BJP contested alone in recently concluded Maharashtra Assembly polls after ending its 25-year alliance with the Shiv Sena last month over a seat-sharing disagreement.
Image: Devendra Fadnavis official Facebook page
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