Devendra Fadnavis

The home ministry remains a sticking point in the power-sharing negotiations within the Mahayuti coalition, which includes the BJP, Shinde’s Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

The Maha Vikas Aghadi constitutes the Shiv Sena (UBT), the Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP). The delegation was led by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Bhaskar Jadhav.

The three leaders were administered the oath as MLAs by the legislative assembly's pro-tem speaker Kalidas Kolambkar soon after the proceedings of the House began at 11 am.

The MNS chief supported BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections but contested alone in the state assembly elections held in November. It failed to secure even one seat.

The alliance between BJP and the Shiv Sena fell out after Uddhav Thackeray decided to walk out of the NDA in 2019 and formed a government in partnership with the Congress and NCP.

Addressing his first press conference after taking over as CM, Fadnavis said the mandate of people in the 2024 assembly elections reflected their expectations and love, and he is feeling the pressure of their hope.

"The way Devendra ji and Ajit dada (Pawar) helped and cooperated with me (when he was the CM), I will extend all possible cooperation and backing to the chief minister. We will work as a team," Shinde said.

The Mahayuti has returned to power in Maharashtra following a resounding electoral mandate. Could the changed power dynamics impact its functioning and delivery?

Fadnavis' return as Maharashtra CM marks a significant moment for the BJP, which has clawed its way back to the top in a complex state dominated by regional players and caste calculations.

The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari and others, CMs and deputy CM of NDA-ruled states among several other dignitaries.

Mahayuti, which consists of three major camps, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde), NCP (Ajit Pawar) and BJP, secured a landslide victory, winning 230 seats in the 288-member assembly.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, CMs and deputy CMs of all NDA-ruled states and 1,000 beneficiaries of the Ladki Bahin scheme are among the over 42,000 guests expected to attend the mega event. 

Eknath Shinde has been the pivotal link between the BJP and the Shiv Sena, ensuring smooth coordination within the Mahayuti alliance. Under his leadership, the coalition government has operated with minimal controversy.

Fadnavis was speaking to reporters after meeting Governor C P Radhakrishnan who invited him to form the next government. He was accompanied by Shinde and Pawar.

Notably, this will be the sixth time that Ajit Pawar will take oath as the Deputy chief minister of the state.

A six-time MLA who served as the youngest mayor of Nagpur, Fadnavis completed his school education in Nagpur - the second capital of Maharashtra.

Speaking after being elected as leader of the state BJP legislature party ahead of Thursday's swearing-in ceremony, he also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for placing faith in him

Devendra Fadnavis emerged as the unanimous choice of all BJP MLAs in Maharashtra after the party won an unprecedented 132 seats in the recent Assembly elections in the state.

Some political observers view it as an outreach effort by the BJP to placate an ally which is weighing its options, while others believe it served as a preliminary discussion regarding the swearing-in ceremony set for December 5.

The oath-taking ceremony of the new Mahayuti government will take place on December 5 evening at the Azad Maidan in south Mumbai and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend it