Eknath Shinde to be sworn in as Maharashtra CM at 7:30 pm today, says Devendra Fadnavis

Eknath Shinde (File Photo)

Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde will be sworn in as the new chief minister of Maharashtra at 7:30 pm today, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis said on June 30.

This comes a day after Uddhav Thackeray quit as chief minister after losing most of the lawmakers due to the Shiv Sena rebellion spearheaded by Shinde.

"Eknath Shinde will be the Maharashtra chief minister. The oath ceremony to be held at 7.30pm today," Fadnavis announced in a joint press conference with Shinde.

"Eknath Shinde to be the Maharashtra Chief Minister, oath ceremony to be held at 7.30pm today," BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis announces in a joint press conference with Shinde pic.twitter.com/PiXv1I5nkU

— ANI (@ANI) June 30, 2022

Fadnavis and Shinde met Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and staked claim to power soon.

"I will stay out of the government and ensure it runs smoothly,"  Fadnavis said. "After the swearing-in ceremony today, we will have a cabinet expansion and Shiv Sena and BJP leaders will take the oath," he said.

With 106 MLAs, the BJP is the single largest party in the 287-member Maharashtra assembly. The Eknath Shinde camp has about 39 MLAs who will be part of the government, apart from independents and smaller parties. The halfway mark to form a government in the 287-member Maharashtra assembly is 144.

Mumbai: Eknath Shinde & BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis meet Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari & stake claim to form the government pic.twitter.com/MgR26cm2dC

— ANI (@ANI) June 30, 2022

Shinde and his group of rebels first moved from Mumbai to Gujarat's Surat before flying to Assam's Guwahati in chartered flights. The group landed in Goa on Wednesday evening and returned to Mumbai today.