Uddhav Thackeray Oath Ceremony: Uddhav Thackeray Takes Oath As Maharashtra Chief Minister
Uddhav Thackeray is taking oath as Maharashtra chief minister this evening. Follow live developments here.
Watch: Uddhav Thackeray Is The New Maharashtra Chief Minister
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has been sworn-in as chief minister amid much fanfare at Shivaji Park in Dadar, Mumbai.
The oath-taking ceremony was attended by some high profile names including industrialist Mukesh Ambani, along with Nita Ambani and their son.
Uddhav’s estranged cousin and MNS chief Raj Thackeray, too, made an appearance at Shivaji Park. The ceremony was also attended by DMK chief MK Stalin and leader TR Baalu. Former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis was also present.
Watch the ceremony here.
Thackeray was anointed the leader of a three-way alliance between Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and Congress—the Maha Vikas Aghadi—on Tuesday night soon after Bharatiya Janata Party’s Devendra Fadnavis resigned following an 80-hour stint as the chief minister.
Uddhav Thackeray Holds His First Cabinet Meeting
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray held his first cabinet meeting at the Sahyadri Guest House after taking oath of office on Thursday evening.
Shiv Sena ministers Eknath Shinde and Subhash Desai, Congress ministers Balasaheb Thorat and Nitin Raut and NCP ministers Chhagan Bhujbal and Jayant Patil were seen arriving at the venue of the meeting in south Mumbai.
Thackeray heads the Mah Vikas Aghadi of three parties.
Two leaders from each of the three parties were sworn in as ministers along with him at a ceremony at Shivaji Park on Thursday evening. Other leaders who arrived at Sahyadri Guest House included Ajit Pawar and Dilip Walase Patil of the NCP; Shiv Sena MPs Rajan Vichare, Anil Desai and Shrikant Shinde, and Sena Member of Legislative Council Anil Parab.
The cabinet, in the first meeting, is supposed to decide on calling a special session of the Assembly to elect full-time Speaker who will conduct floor test, a senior IAS officer said.
Governor BK Koshyari has asked Thackeray to prove majority by Dec. 3.
With PTI inputs
The First Thackeray Chief Minister—In Pictures
PM Modi Congratulates Uddhav Thackeray
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Uddhav Thackeray for becoming the chief minister of Maharashtra. Thackeray had earlier said that after taking oath he would go and meet his “big brother” Modi in New Delhi.
Six Ministers Sworn-In
Six other leaders, two from each party, including Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde, NCP’s Jayant Patil, Congress’ Balasaheb Thorat and Nitin Raut were sworn in as cabinet ministers.
Manmohan Singh Writes To Uddhav Thackeray
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was also invited for the oath taking ceremony, will not attend it. However, he too like Sonia Gandhi, wrote a letter congratulating Thackeray.
Raj Thackeray Arrives At Shivaji Park
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray is also attending his cousin Uddhav Thackeray’s swearing-in as the Maharashtra chief minister.
Top DMK Leaders Also Present
Sonia Gandhi To Skip Ceremony
Congress President Sonia Gandhi will be unable to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Uddhav Thackeray. However, she sent a letter wishing him the best.
Maha Vikas Aghadi Releases Common Minimum Programme
The three-way alliance of Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP have released their common minimum programme—the basic terms agreed upon by the three parties—ahead of Uddhav Thackeray's swearing-in ceremony today.
“The alliance partners commit to uphold the secular values enshrined in the Constitution,” the preamble of the CMP said. “On contentious issue of national importance as well as state importance especially having repurcussions/ consequences on the secular fabric of the nation, the Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress will take a joint view after holding consultations and arriving at a consensus.”
The major issues being covered by the CMP are farm relief, addressing unemployment, women's safety, education, urban development, health, industry and social justice.
Key highlights:
- Immediate loan waiver will be granted to farmers
- Law for 80 percent reservation in jobs for local/domicile youth
- 500 square feet tenements for slum rehab versus current 300 square feet
- Free education for girls from economically weaker sections
- ‘One Rupee’ health clinics at sub-district level for all pathological tests
- Cheap and efficient food for Rs 10 for the common people
Other highlights
- Interest-free education loans for children of farm labour and EWS
- Crop insurance scheme will be revised
- To ensure immediate compensation to farmers who lost crop
- To ensure remunerative prices for farm produce
- To construct sustainable water supply systems for drought-affected areas
- Fellowship for educated unemployed youth
Read the full CMP here.
Watch the press conference here.
Ajit Pawar To Not Take Oath Today
NCP leader Ajit Pawar will not take oath as an MLA today, he told reporters after a meeting Sharad Pawar and other senior NCP leaders.
Six leaders will take oath today, two from each party. The decision on who will be the deputy chief minister is yet to be taken.
What Happened So Far
Thackeray’s swearing-in follows days of political drama, which included allegations of blackmail, kidnapping and MLAs switching loyalties.
Since Oct. 24, when the election results declared the BJP as the single largest party, Maharashtra has been filled with multiple plots and subplots.
After a spat between the BJP and Shiv Sena led to the break up of their alliance, the latter started exploring alternate options to form a government. With no party able to stake claim, President’s rule was declared in the state.
Sena entered into talks with the NCP and Congress over a potential three-way alliance. Talks were in its final stages on the night of Nov. 22, with NCP supremo Sharad Pawar claiming that Uddhav Thackeray will be the chief minister.
Early morning, however, everyone was in for a surprise. Fadnavis took oath as chief minister with NCP’s Ajit Pawar sworn in as his deputy. No one knew where Pawar got the support of NCP’s MLAs from.
Sena rushed to take the matter to the Supreme Court saying that the manner in which the government was formed was illegal. Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray addressed a press conference expressing confidence that they still had the majority numbers with only 11-12 MLAs switching sides with Ajit Pawar. Those too were expected to return.
On Monday night, the NCP, Sena and Congress gathered their MLAs at the Grand Hyatt in Mumbai for a show of strength. The three parties claimed to have over 162 MLAs, with the Samajwadi Party too extending support. Ajit Pawar was removed as the NCP’s party whip in the assembly, virtually ending his influence over any of the MLAs.
On Tuesday morning, the Supreme Court ordered a floor test to be conducted through an open ballot and to telecast it live on Wednesday.
Soon after, Ajit Pawar resigned as the deputy chief minister with the intention of returning to NCP. That meant, Fadnavis no longer had the support to form a government on his own.
Addressing a media conference on Tuesday, Fadnavis said he will resign as he doesn’t have the required numbers to form a government without the support of Ajit Pawar. He said when Ajit Pawar came to them pledging NCP’s support, they approached the Governor and formed the government. “Now that Ajit Pawar has resigned, I will also tender my resignation,” he said.
Fadnavis, however, added that as the single largest party it will be a formidable opposition in the state assembly. “BJP will act as an effective opposition in Maharashtra, raise people’s issues.”