Maharashtra CM news live: Fadnavis set to be CM, Eknath Shinde likely to be Deputy CM

To accommodate the overwhelming crowd expected at the venue, special arrangements have been made for 40,000 supporters, creating a large and vibrant atmosphere.

The swearing-in ceremony of Maharashtra's new chief minister set to take place on Thursday at 5 pm at Mumbai's Azad Maidan will have an impressive security presence, with over 4,000 police personnel deployed across the venue.

Party legislators said they have been meeting Eknath Shinde, who is currently the caretaker chief minister, since the last two days to convince him to become part of the new government.

All through the day, the MLAs made a beeline to 'Varsha', the CM's official residence, to meet the outgoing chief minister.

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Wednesday congratulated the Bharatiya Janata Party leader Devendra Fadnavis ahead of his oath-taking ceremony as Maharashtra CM.

"Heartiest congratulations to Shri @Dev_FadnavisJi on assuming office as Maharashtra's Chief Minister once again. Your dynamic leadership and people-centric vision, inspired by Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodiJi's guidance and @PMOIndia's vision for a stronger India, will surely drive Maharashtra to new heights of progress and prosperity. Wishing you great success," Kalyan said in a post on X on Wednesday.

A three-day special session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly will be held in Mumbai from December 7 to enable newly-elected MLAs to take oath and elect a speaker, PTI reported citing legislative Sources.

The invite issued by the Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik has named CM-designate as Devendra Sarita Gandadharrao Fadnavis. While Gangadhar Rao Fadnavis is his father, Sarita Fadnavis is the name of the new CM's mother.

Maharashtra CM-designate Devendra Fadnavis arrived at Varsha bungalow to meet Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde

Eknath Shinde to take oath tomorrow as Maharashtra's Deputy CM along with Ajit Pawar, in the new government, ANI reported quoting Shiv Sena Sources

Devendra Fadnavis, set to return as Maharashtra Chief Minister for the third time, used social media effectively which helped him reach out to large sections of digital audience compared to his peers.

"The BJP leader is the "most-followed" politician from Maharashtra on social media, said Prasad Kulkarni, a Thane-based social media expert, according to PTI.

“The party has faith in his leadership and the public has also placed its faith...I am confident that Maharashtra will become stronger under his leadership... The public has voted for us to give a stable government and to bring development,” BJP leader CT Ravi said on Devendra Fadnavis to take oath as Chief Minister of Maharashtra

Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande says, "For the last 2.5 years, Maharashtra has got a very good government and schemes have been brought for every section. Ladki Bahin Yojana played an important role in bringing the Mahayuti government and the new government will be formed according to the expectations of the people."

Devendra Fadnavis said that besides the Shiv Sena and the NCP, Rashtriya Samaj Paksha, Jansurajya Shakti Party, Yuva Swabhiman Paksh's Ravi Rana and two other independent MLAs have given him letters of support.

When asked if he and NCP chief Ajit Pawar will also take oath as Deputy CMs tomorrow, Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde says, "Wait till evening..."

Replying to Shinde, NCP chief Ajit Pawar says, "Sham tak unka samaj aayega, I will take it (oath), I will not wait."

Replying to NCP chief Pawar, Shinde says, "Dada (Ajit Pawar) has experience of taking (oath) both in the morning and evening."

“The swearing-in ceremony of the new government will be held tomorrow at 5.30 pm in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he told the media outside Raj Bhawan

“I am very happy with the completion of two and a half years. The work done by our government, the Mahayuti government, the three of us and our team in the last 2.5 years is remarkable. It will be written in golden letters in history. We are happy that we took such big decisions,” Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde told the media outside the Raj Bhawan.

NCP chief Ajit Pawar said after meeting the Governor, "We will give our best to run the government in the state. Activities related to the party will be handled by (BJP chief) Chandrashekhar Bawankule and NCP's Sunil Tatkare."

Following the unanimous election of Devendra Fadnavis as the legislative leader of the BJP, newly elected chief whip of its state unit, Ashish Shelar on Wednesday said that the day is like Diwali for the party and its leaders.

Maharashtra CM-designate Devendra Fadnavis says, "The swearing-in ceremony of the new government will be held tomorrow at 5.30 pm in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We will decide by evening who all will take oath tomorrow."

Maharashtra CM-designate Devendra Fadnavis said , “Eknath Shinde in his capacity as President of Shiv Sena and head of Shiv Sena's Legislature Party, has given a letter recommending my name for the post of Chief Minister of Maharashtra. I want to thank him.”

After staking claim to form the next Maharashtra government, CM-elect Devendra Fadnavis said that he has requested caretaker CM Eknath Shinde to be in his cabinet.

“I have requested Shinde to be in the cabinet. I am hopeful that he will accept the request,” he said after meeting the Governor.

Hours after being named as the BJP's Maharashtra chief minister pick, Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday staked a claim to form a government in the state. He will take oath as the Maharashtra CM in Mumbai tomorrow.

BJP's central observer for Maharashtra, Union Minister Vijay Rupani on Wednesday said that the Chief Minister and two Deputy Chief Ministers will be sworn in at the ceremony scheduled for December 5 at Mumbia's Azad Maidan.

According to him, the decision on ministerial berths will be taken later, PTI reported.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday accused the past "Congress-led government" of stalling key infrastructure projects in Maharashtra including the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train and Mumbai Metro car shed in Aarey Colony.

Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant on Wednesday said only the chief minister and two deputy chief ministers will take oath during the swearing-in ceremony to be held on December 5 at the Azad Maidan in Mumbai.

Newly elected chief whip of Maharashtra BJP Ashish Shelar says, "BJP received unprecedented and unparallel mandate, seats of Shiv Sena and NCP also increased under the leadership of Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. BJP's striking rate is historical...today unanimously we chose Devendra Fadnavis as the Leader of Maharashtra and soon we will stake claim to form the govt as well...it is Diwali for us today..."