Mumbai, Nov 27, TEN Network | After an action-packed day that witnessed an unforeseen political drama in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray is all set to take oath as Maharashtra chief minister at Shivaji Park on Thursday. As the newly-elected MLAs took oath in the Maharashtra Assembly, NCP leaders Ajit Pawar and Supriya Sule were seen exchanging a warm hug, indicating that all was well within the Pawar family. Later during the day, reports citing sources suggested that Ajit Pawar could return as Maharashtra’s Deputy CM.
On Tuesday, leaders of Maha Vikas Aghadi, an alliance of Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress, met Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to stake claim to form government in the state. Earlier, the day witnessed fast-paced political developments following a Supreme Court decision to order a floor test for the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government supported by NCP leader Ajit Pawar. The order was followed by resignations of both, Pawar as Deputy CM and Devendra Fadnavis as CM.
Maharashtra government formation UPDATES:
4:50 pm: Chief Minister-designate Uddhav Thackeray arrives at YB Chavan centre in Mumbai to attend a joint meeting between Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena MLAs.
4:40 pm: Reports say former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal are unlikely to attend Uddhav Thackeray’s swearing-in ceremony at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park tomorrow evening.
4:30 pm: Sources say Ajit Pawar has made a demand for rotational chief ministership of 2.5 years each. A decision on this is expected this evening.
4:15 pm: Shiv Sena leader Vinayak Raut said: “Around 400 farmers from various districts of Maharashtra have been invited for Uddhav Thackeray’s swearing-in ceremony tomorrow. To give respect to the farmers, family member of those farmers who committed suicide have also been invited.”
4:10 pm: The Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance has invited West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee for the swearing-in ceremony tomorrow. Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar said all Congress CMs, MK Stalin, Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal have also been also invited for the swearing-in ceremony of Uddhav Thackeray tomorrow. (TN)