Maharashtra: Uddhav Thackeray takes oath as Chief Minister of a Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government.
Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray today took oath as the chief minister of Maharashtra this evening at Shivaji Park in Mumbai. The ceremony was attended by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, DMK chief MK Stalin and party leader TR Baalu, Congress leader Ahmed Patel, NCP leader Praful Patel, and BJP leader and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Uddhav Thackeray is expected to hold the first Cabinet meeting of the new alliance government around 8 pm. Congress president Sonia Gandhi couldn't attend the swearing-in ceremony but wrote a letter to him. As the newly-formed Maha Vikas Aghadi took office, six ministers -- two each from the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress -- were sworn in by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. Industrialist Mukesh Ambani, his wife Nita Ambani and son Anant were also seen at the ceremony. Just two days ago, Ajit Pawar resigned as Deputy Chief Minister of the BJP-led Devendra Fadnavis government, which collapsed after failing to reach a majority.
Here are the highlights on Maharashtra government formation:
The newly sworn-in Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray and Aaditya Thackeray arrive for first cabinet meeting.
NCP leader Ajit Pawar also tweeted his wishes after the swearing-in ceremony today evening.
West Bengal chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday congratulated Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, NCP chief Sharad Pawar.
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav congratulated the "Maha Vikas Aghadi" government in Maharashtra on Thursday.
Rajnath Singh extended his wishes to the coalition government in Maharashtra.
View of Shivaji Park during Uddhav Thackeray's swearing-in ceremony, in Mumbai.
Maharashtra Government Oath: PM Modi congratulated Uddhav Thackeray
PM Modi congratulated Uddhav Thackeray
Uddhav Thackeray was sworn in as Maharashtra's new Chief Minister this evening at the sprawling Shivaji Park in Mumbai, where his father Bal Thackeray addressed his first Dussehra rally to announce the birth of the Shiv Sena in 1966. A statue of Chhattrapati Shivaji presided over the oath-taking of the first Thackeray to take office. Uddhav Thackeray, in saffron silk kurta, bowed before the "Shivrajyabhishek" or a statue depicting the crowning of Chhatrapati Shivaji before taking oath in Marathi. His family - wife Rashmi Thackeray and son Aaditya - was on the grand fort-replica stage designed by Hindi film art director Nitin Desai.
READ HEREMaharashtra Government Oath: The oath-taking ceremony of Uddhav Thackeray and others
The oath-taking ceremony of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and others.
Maharashtra: NCP leader Jayant Rajaram Patil takes oath as minister in Mumbai
NCP leader Jayant Rajaram Patil takes oath as minister in Mumbai.
Maharashtra Government: Shiv Sena leaders take oath as ministers
Shiv Sena leaders Eknath Shinde and Subhash Desai take oath as ministers.
Maharashtra News Live: Uddhav Thackeray takes oath as Maharashtra chief ministerUddhav Thackeray takes oath as the chief minister of Maharashtra.
Maharashtra Government Oath: Uddhav Thackeray arrives at the stage for his swearing-in Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray arrives at the stage for his swearing-in ceremony at Shivaji Park in Mumbai. Mukesh Ambani, along with wife Nita and son Anant arrive for the oath-taking ceremony of Uddhav Thackeray and other Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders.
Maharashtra Government Oath: Raj Thackeray arrives at the oath ceremony
MNS Chief Raj Thackeray arrives at the oath ceremony of CM designate Uddhav Thackeray and other Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders.
Maharashtra CM: Leaders at the venue for the oath-taking ceremony
DMK chief MK Stalin, party leader TR Baalu, Congress leader Ahmed Patel and NCP's Praful Patel at the venue for the oath-taking ceremony.
Maharashtra Government: Dr Manmohan Singh in a letter to Uddhav Thackeray
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.
Uddhav Thackeray Oath: Uddhav Thackeray to take oath as Maharashtra chief minister shortly
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will take oath as Maharashtra chief minister shortly at 6.40 pm.
Maharashtra Government Oath: Leaders arrive at venue
NCP chief Sharad Pawar, party leaders Ajit Pawar and Jayant Patil, Shiv Sena's Manohar Joshi, Congress leaders Ashok Chavan, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray and Prithviraj Chavan reach the venue for the swearing-in ceremony.
Maharashtra Live: Rahul Gandhi pens down the letter to Uddhav Thackeray
Rahul Gandhi in his letter said, "I am glad that the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi has come together to defeat the BJP's attempt to undermine our democracy."
Maharashtra Government: Will not be taking oath today, says Ajit Pawar
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)'s Ajit Pawar is set to be Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra once again after his dramatic betrayal and homecoming, sources in the party said on Thursday, hours before the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government's oath ceremony. But not today. Ajit Pawar will stay away from the first round of oaths today as Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray is sworn in as Chief Minister along with six ministers at Mumbai's Shivaji Park. "I will not be taking oath today. Today six leaders will be taking oath from each party," Ajit Pawar said after a meeting with uncle and NCP chief Sharad Pawar and other party leaders including Jayant Patil and Praful Patel.
READ HERE Sonia Gandhi skips swearing-in ceremony of Uddhav Thackeray, writes letter
Dear Uddhav Thackeray ji,
Aaditya met me yesterday and extended your kind invitation to attend the swearing-in ceremony this evening in Mumbai. I regret that I am unable to be present at the function.
The Shiv Sena, NCP and the Congress have come together under quite extraordinary circumstances at a time when the country faces unprecedented threats from the BJP. The political atmosphere has become poisonous and the economy has collapsed. Farmers are facing great distress. The Shiv Sena, NCP and the Congress have agreed to a common programme and I am confident that all three parties will strive their utmost to implement that programme in letter and spirit. The people of Maharashtra expect the alliance to provide cohesive, purposeful, responsible, responsive and transparent administration and our collective effort will undoubtedly be to ensure that these expectations are fulfilled. I wish you personally all the very best as you embark on a new innings in your life.
Uddhav Thackeray to Hold First Cabinet Meeting at 8 pm
The first meeting of the Maharashtra Cabinet will take place at 8 pm at Sahyadri guest house in Mumbai after the swearing-in ceremony.
Share a deep and old relationship: Jaya Bachchan
Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan also extended her wishes to Uddhav Thackeray, saying, "Thackeray family and we share a deep and old relationship. My heartiest congratulations to him (Uddhav) on becoming the chief minister. I sincerely hope he works towards the betterment of Maharashtra, provides relief to farmers and gives employment to youth."
The Nanar Refinery Project and bullet train project will be taken up in our Cabinet meeting, said Eknath Shinde.
Sena leader Eknath Shinde at press conference of 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' (NCP-Congress-Shiv Sena alliance) said, " In Maharashtra, farmers are facing problems. This government will do best for farmers. This will be a strong government."
Uddhav Thackeray invited his cousin Raj Thackeray: Sources
Uddhav Thackeray invited his estranged cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray for the swearing-in ceremony scheduled today at the Shivaji Park, party sources said. "Yes... We have been told that Raj Thackeray has been invited for the swearing-in ceremony... It's a historic occasion for the entire family and everybody is proud of him," a senior MNS leader told IANS.
Common Minimum Program
Th NCP-Congress-Shiv Sena alliance released its Common Minimum Program of 'Maha Vikas Aghadi'
Ajit Pawar To Be Back As Deputy Chief Minister
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)'s Ajit Pawar is set to be Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra once again after his dramatic betrayal and homecoming, sources in the party said on Thursday, hours before the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government's oath ceremony. But not today.
Ajit Pawar will stay away from the first round of oaths today as Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray is sworn in as Chief Minister along with six ministers at Mumbai's Shivaji Park.
State Cabinet Ministers will be announced in the coming days: Praful Patel NCP leader Praful Patel said, "State Cabinet Ministers will be announced in the coming days. A total of six leaders, two from each party, will take oath today."
The decision on Deputy Chief Minister is yet to be taken: Ajit Pawar
I am not taking oath today. Today six leaders will be taking oath from each party (Shiv Sena, NCP, Congress). The decision on Deputy Chief Minister is yet to be taken by the party, said NCP leader Ajit Pawar.
Uddhav Thackeray To Be 8th Maharashtra Chief Minister
Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray will be the eighth person to take oath as Maharashtra chief minister while not being a legislator. Congress leaders A R Antulay, Vasantdada Patil, Shivajirao Nilangekar-Patil, Shankarrao Chavan, Sushilkumar Shinde and Prithviraj Chavan are among the leaders who were not members of any of the state legislature Houses when they occupied the top post.
NCP leader Ajit Pawar tells news agency ANI: "I am not taking oath today. Today six leaders will be taking oath from each party (Shiv Sena, NCP, Congress). The decision on Deputy Chief Minister is yet to be taken by the party."
NCP leader Praful Pate says: "State Cabinet ministers will be announced in the coming days. Total six leaders, two from each party, will take oath today."
Have invited PM, Sonia Gandhi, Others for ceremony: Shiv Sena leader
Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde says: "We have invited all big leaders from the centre and state including the Prime Minister. Aditya Thackeray himself went to invite Congress Presisdent Sonia Gandhi. We have also invited former Maharashtra CM and Raj Thackeray. Everyone should witness the historic day."
Ajit Pawar reaches Sharad Pawar's residence
Ajit Pawar arrives at Silver Oak, residence of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief Sharad Pawar. Party leaders Jayant Patil and Praful Patel are already present at the residence.
Will take oath as minister: NCP's Chhagan Bhujbal
Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal says he will take oath as minister today in the new Maharashtra government of the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance.
"NCP chief Sharad Pawar has chosen two MLAs from the party to take oath as ministers and I am one of them. I will take oath as minister today evening," Mr Bhujbal says.
"Senior leaders from the party, including Mr Pawar, will decide on the portfolio issue," he adds.
Maharashtra Governor behaved in "unprecedented and reprehensible manner": Sonia Gandhi
Congress president Sonia Gandhi says
the Maharashtra Governor behaved in an "unprecedented and reprehensible manner" by inviting the BJP's Devendra Fadnavis and the NCP's Ajit Pawar to take oath in a surprise event last week.
"There is no doubt that he (Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari) acted under the instructions of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. The BJP's pre-poll alliance did not hold because of its own arrogance and over-confidence," Mrs Gandhi said at a meeting of Congress MPs in Parliament House.
"Every effort was made to blatantly sabotage the three-party alliance government formation, but we appealed to the Supreme Court and the (Narendra) Modi-(Amit) Shah government was totally exposed. Let me assure you, we three parties are united in our resolve to defeat the BJP's sordid manipulations," she said.
Congress' Balasaheb Thorat, Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde and NCP's Jayant Patil will address a joint press conference, ahead of swearing-in ceremony of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, according to news agency ANI. The Common Minimum programme is expected to be released.
Maharashtra swearing-in: MK Stalin arrives in Mumbai
DMK president MK Stalin will attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new government of the state.
Bal Thackeray supported Indira Gandhi: Congress leader
On being asked if the Congress Party has compromised while forming the alliance in Maharashtra with Shiv Sena and NCP, Congress leader Rajiv Tyagi says: "BJP formed an alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Now that their alliance has been called off, they allege PDP to be a traitor."
"Our alliance is with Shiv Sena and that party has supported us on several occasions like Balasaheb Thackeray supporting Indira Gandhi. Shiv Sena had also supported Pranav Mukherjee and Pratibha Patil as President candidates," he adds.
Maharashtra government formation: Security tightened ahead of swearing-in ceremony
At least 2,000 police personnel will guard the Shivaji Park in Mumbai as part of the elaborate security arrangements being made for the swearing-in ceremony of Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, a police official says.
The iconic venue will turn into a virtual fortress as personnel drawn from various security forces, including Quick Response Teams, Riot Control Police, State Reserve Police Force, Local Armed Police and Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad will be deployed to prevent any untoward incident.
Dog squads will also be on duty to maintain a vigil at the sprawling ground, located in Dadar area, he says. Police personnel in civil clothes will also be deployed, the official adds. Drones and CCTV cameras will also be used to monitor the crowd.
"People will not be allowed to carry any bags, including those meant to keep laptops, and water bottles inside the park," he says.
Maharashtra situation will affect national politics: Sanjay Raut
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut says swearing-in of Uddhav Thackeray as Maharashtra chief minister will affect national politics.
"What is going to happen in Maharashtra will affect national politics. Maharashtra is a state which influences the politics of the entire country," Mr Raut says.
He alleges that BJP used all tactics to prevent Sena from forming the government. "From President House to Governor and ED to CBI -- everything was used," the Sena leader says, adding that the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government will complete its full term.
On being asked whether NCP leader Ajit Pawar will be the deputy chief minister, Mr Raut says: "I don't know. It is NCP's matter. Sharad Pawar is the senior-most leader of "Maha Vikas Aghadi" (Shiv Sena-Congress-NCP), what post should be given to Ajit Pawar or someone else in his party, will be decided by him."
"How is Josh": Asks Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut
Senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut takes a veiled dig at the BJP hours before his party boss, Uddhav Thackeray, takes oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
"How is josh? Jai Maharashtra," Mr Raut has tweeted, quoting actor Vicky Kaushal's punchline from the super hit film "Uri: The Surgical Strike".
BJP trying to "subvert democracy" in Maharashtra: Sonia Gandhi
Congress President Sonia Gandhi hits out at the BJP, accuses it of making shameless attempts to "subvert democracy" in Maharashtra and to blatantly sabotage the three party alliance from coming to power in the state.
Addressing the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting in Parliament House, she hits out at the Governor of the state and says that he acted in an "unprecedented and reprehensible manner".
All party MPs from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were present in the meeting.
Posters In Pune Project Ajit Pawar As Maharashtra CM
A poster projecting Ajit Pawar as future chief minister of Maharashtra seen in his home constituency Baramati in Pune.
The poster has photos of Ajit Pawar and his uncle Sharad Pawar, whose party is the key constituent of newly- formed ''Maha Vikas Aghadi'' with the Shiv Sena and the Congress.
The poster came up on the eve of Uddhav Thackeray's oath ceremony in Mumbai.
"Dada (Ajit), you won the assembly elections by the highest margin in Maharashtra. The state needs you and you cannot stop now," reads the message on the poster in Marathi. The entire Maharashtra is looking at you as a future chief minister. Now, let us take the decision what you have to do," it says.
Won't misuse state machinery: Shiv Sena
Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana says that the government to be formed in Maharashtra will not misuse the state machinery for "deceit and conspiracies".
"The important thing is that the government will not use official bungalows, its offices and investigative agencies to carry out deceit and conspiracies, this much is certain. The government will function in a clean manner," Saamana says in its editorial.
It adds that Uddhav Thackeray taking oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra is a new sunrise in the state adding that there is a lot of enthusiasm among people, much like there was at the time of Independence.
"A Chief Minister from Shiv Sena, and Uddhav Thackeray at that, such is the fortune of Maharashtra," it says.
Mumbai Police review security arrangements
Commissioner of Police Sanjay Barve reviews security arrangements at Shivaji Park, ahead of Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray's swearing-in.
NCP workers gather outside Sharad Pawar's residence
NCP workers from Maval taluka gather outside Silver Oak, the residence of NCP Chief Sharad Pawar. They tell news agency ANI: "We have come to meet Pawar saheb (Sharad Pawar) with the request to make our MLA Sunil Shelke a minister in the new government. We think he will agree."
A statue of Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray's mother, Meena Thackeray, outside the Shivaji Park decorated with flowers, ahead of the swearing-in ceremony.
Balasaheb Thorat, Jayant Patil among leaders to take oath today
Congress leaders Balasaheb Thorat and Ashok Chavan, Shiv Sena leaders Eknath Shinde and Subhash Desai, and NCP leaders Jayant Patil and Chaggan Bhujbal will be taking oath today, according to sources.
Preparations underway at Shivaji Park
Uddhav Thackeray will be sworn at 6:40 pm today at Shivaji Park in Dadar, the place where his party holds traditional Dussehra rally each year. Sources say the Shiv Sena chief, who has never contested an election, will become a member of the Legislative Council in the bicameral Maharashtra assembly.
'Thackeray Sarkar' posters crop up in Mumbai
'Thackeray Sarkar' posters seen in Mumbai ahead of Uddhav Thackeray's swearing-in ceremony at Shivaji Park.
Maharashtra Government: Kamal Nath, Bhupesh Baghel to attend swearing-in of Uddhav Thackeray
Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Bhupesh Baghel to attend the swearing-in of Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray as Maharashtra Chief Minister today.