Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray took oath as the 18th chief minister of the state on Thursday, ending the month-long political crisis in Maharashtra. After the swearing-in ceremony, the newly-appointed Maharashtra CM will hold his first cabinet meeting at around 8 PM. The 59-year-old Thackeray has thus become the third Shiv Sena leader after Manohar Joshi and Narayan Rane to become the CM of Maharashtra.
MUMBAI: Shiv Sena president Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray was sworn-in as the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra in a grand function held at the Shivaji Park here on Thursday evening. Governor BS Koshyari administered the oath of office and secrecy to Uddhav Thackeray, 59, who sported a striking saffron-colored kurta-pyjama, the official colour of his party.
In an unusual gesture, soon after completing the formalities, Uddhav Thackeray stepped to the front of the stage and knelt down, touched his hands and head on the floor to express his gratitude to the people of Maharashtra for the honour bestowed on him.
Uddhav took oath as the 18th chief minister of the state, ending the month-long political crisis in Maharashtra. After the swearing-in ceremony, the newly-appointed Maharashtra CM chaired the first meeting of his cabinet at the Sahyadri Guest House in here. The 59-year-old leader also became the third Shiv Sena leader after Manohar Joshi and Narayan Rane to become the CM of Maharashtra.
Uddhav's ascension to the top post came after days of political tussle and negotiations between the Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress to form a coalition government after Sena decided to snap its ties with BJP over the chief minister’s post.
Besides Uddhav, other alliance leaders also took oath at Mumbai's iconic Shivaji Park, which is the favourite venue for events by the Shiv Sena, which includes founder Bal Thackeray's iconic Dussehra rallies.
Catch all the live updates from Maharashtra government formation here:
Shiv Sena workers celebrate in Jammu after Uddhav Thackeray takes oath as Maharashtra Chief Minister in Mumbai.
Jammu & Kashmir: Shiv Sena workers celebrate in Jammu, after Uddhav Thackeray takes oath as Maharashtra Chief Minister in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/wFAmZX2G3M
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2019
Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, along with his wife Rashmi and son Aaditya offer prayers at the famous Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai.
Mumbai: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, along with his wife Rashmi & their son Aaditya Thackeray offer prayers at Siddhivinayak Temple. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/54eOi1jgG6
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2019
Widespread celebrations have begun after the oath-taking ceremony of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and others concluded at the iconic Shivaji Park in Mumbai.
Mumbai: The oath-taking ceremony of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray & others concludes. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/ShtgPL1OS7
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2019
Congress leaders Balasaheb Thorat and Nitin Raut also take oath as Maharashtra ministers.
#Maharashtra: Congress leaders Balasaheb Thorat and Nitin Raut take oath as Ministers. pic.twitter.com/exY9bMoOTN
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2019
Uddhav Thackeray waves at his supporters after taking oath as the 18th Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
#Mumbai: Uddhav Thackeray after taking oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. pic.twitter.com/FWthTdmWaf
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2019
NCP leader Chhagan Chandrakant Bhujbal takes oath as minister of the NCP-Sena-Congress government in Maharashtra.
Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party leader Chhagan Chandrakant Bhujbal takes oath as minister. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/vwSvPz4fyn
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2019
NCP leader Jayant Rajaram Patil takes oath as minister in the Uddhav Thackeray-led alliance government in Maharashtra.
Maharashtra: NCP leader Jayant Rajaram Patil takes oath as minister in Mumbai. https://t.co/QWnDgjf9lZ pic.twitter.com/i9US6vsVvW
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2019
Shiv Sena leaders Eknath Shinde and Subhash Desai take oath as ministers.
Mumbai: Shiv Sena leaders Eknath Shinde and Subhash Desai take oath as ministers. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/RkyOdP6qRy
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2019
Dr Manmohan Singh writes to Uddhav Thackeray, says, ''I am very happy to know that you are taking oath as the 19th Chief Minister of Maharashtra. It is a historic event and I commend you on your visionary leadership.''
Dr.Manmohan Singh in a letter to Uddhav Thackeray: I am very happy to know that you are taking oath as the 19th Chief Minister of Maharashtra. It is a historic event and I commend you on your visionary leadership. pic.twitter.com/6U7pUumX7r
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2019
MNS chief Raj Thackeray arrives at oath ceremony of CM-designate Uddhav Thackeray and other Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders.
Mumbai: MNS Chief Raj Thackeray arrives at oath ceremony of CM designate Uddhav Thackeray and other Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/U3vonxZCmZ
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2019
DMK chief MK Stalin, party leader TR Baalu present with Congress leader Ahmed Patel and NCP leader Praful Patel at the oath ceremony of Uddhav Thackeray and other Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders.
Mumbai: DMK Chief MK Stalin, DMK leader TR Baalu with Congress leader Ahmed Patel and NCP leader Praful Patel at oath ceremony of Uddhav Thackeray and other Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders pic.twitter.com/rKTcEIs06B
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2019
Ahead of Uddhav Thackeray’s swearing-in, NCP leader Ajit Pawar said that he is not taking oath today and added that he will do whatever the party supremo Sharad Pawar will ask me to do. Talking to Zee News, he said, "I am not angry, I am very much in the NCP, and now going with my sister (Supriya Sule) to participate in the oath ceremony."
Sonia Gandhi not to attend Uddhav Thackeray's oath ceremony, says country facing 'unprecedented threats' from BJP. (Full report)
Below are the points included in Maha Vikas Aghadi's CMP:
Preamble
The alliance partners commit to uphold the secular values enshrined in the Constitution. On contentious issue of national importance as well as of state importance especially having repercussions/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.
Farmers
1) Provide immediate assistance to the farmers who are suffering due to premature rains and floods.
2) Immediate loan waiver will be granted to farmers.
3) Crop Insurance scheme shall be revised to ensure immediate compensation to the farmers who have lost their crops.
4) We shall undertake appropriate measures to ensure remunerative prices for farm produce.
5) Adequate steps shall be initiated for the construction of sustainable water supply system for the drought affected areas.
Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat, Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde and NCP's Jayant Patil will address a joint press conference of the Maha Vikas Aghadi at 4 PM today. The press briefing is taking place ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of Uddhav Thackeray. During the press briefing, the Common Minimum Programme fo Maharashtra will be released.
Congress' Balasaheb Thorat, Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde & NCP's Jayant Patil to address a joint press conference, ahead of swearing-in ceremony of Shiv Sena chief & 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' leader Uddhav Thackeray, today. The Common Minimum programme will be released.
Mumbai: Congress' Balasaheb Thorat, Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde & NCP's Jayant Patil to address a joint press conference, ahead of swearing-in ceremony of Shiv Sena chief & 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' leader Uddhav Thackeray, today. The Common Minimum programme will be released.(file pics) pic.twitter.com/MhJW4zubud
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2019
NCP leader and Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule recalled her relations with Bal Thackeray and his wife and said that they treated her like their own daughter. "Maa Saheb and Bala Saheb - missing you so much today. Both of you should have been here today. They treated me with so much love and affection more than a daughter! Their role in my life will always be special and memorable! (sic0)," Sule said in a tweet.
Maa Saheb and Bala Saheb - missing you so much today. Both of you should have been here today. They treated me with so much love and affection more than a daughter! Their role in my life will always be special and memorable!
— Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) November 28, 2019
DMK president MK Stalin arrives in Mumbai to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
#WATCH Maharashtra: DMK president MK Stalin arrives in Mumbai. He will attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new government of the state, led by Shiv Sena chief and 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' Uddhav Thackeray as the Chief Minister, today. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/jafvkBryiP
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2019
'Bal Thackeray Samadhi' in Shivaji Park has been decorated, ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of Shiv Sena chief and 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' leader Uddhav Thackeray, as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra today.
Mumbai: 'Bal Thackeray Samadhi' in Shivaji Park has been decorated, ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of Shiv Sena chief and 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' leader Uddhav Thackeray, as the Chief Minister of #Maharashtra today. pic.twitter.com/vA7Hajh9a9
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2019
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Madhya Pradesh Kamal Nath, Amitabh Bachchan, Sachin Tendulkar and several other cricketers and Bollywood stars are going to attend Uddhav Thackeray's swearing-in ceremony. Former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and all prominent leaders of Maharashtra have also been invited to attend the ceremony.
Hours before Uddhav Thackeray's swearing in ceremony, Shiv Sena leader tweeted the famous Bollywood movie dialogue "How is the Josh?"
How is Josh?
जय महाराष्ट्र— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) November 28, 2019
Besides Uddhav Thackeray, senior Shiv Sena leaders Eknath Shinde and Subhash Desai will take oath as cabinet ministers on Thursday. From NCP, Chhagan Bhujbal and Jayant Patil are expected to take oath as ministers. Maharashtra Congress president Balasaheb Thorat and Ashok Chavan are also likely to take oath as cabinet minister on Thursday (November 28).
Sources said that NCP leader Ajit Pawar is unlikely to take oath as deputy chief minister on Thursday (Wednesday 28) along with Uddhav Thackeray, who is scheduled to take oath as Chief Minister of Maharashtra at 6:40 pm on Thursday. (Read more here)
Uddhav Thackeray calls up Prime Minister Narendra Modi and invited him to attend the swearing-in ceremony after sending an invitation card to the PMO office. (Read more here)
Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray on Wednesday (November 27) met Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi and invited them for the swearing-in ceremony of his father and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray as Maharashtra Chief Minister at 6:40 pm on Thursday (November 28). (Read more here)
Deputy Chief Minister in the new Maharashtra government will be from NCP, while the post of Assembly Speaker will go to the Congress: NCP leader Praful Patel