Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra for the third time in a grand ceremony held at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan. The event, officiated by Governor CP Radhakrishnan, marked a significant political moment for the state.
Key Highlights of the Oath-Taking Ceremony
- Dignitaries Present:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh were in attendance. Chief Ministers from multiple states, including Yogi Adityanath (Uttar Pradesh), Nitish Kumar (Bihar), and Pramod Sawant (Goa), also graced the occasion. - Celebrities in Attendance:
The event saw notable personalities like cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Ranveer Singh, and Madhuri Dixit.
Devendra Fadnavis: A Journey of Leadership
Born on July 22, 1970, in Nagpur, Fadnavis comes from a middle-class family and boasts an impressive academic background, including a graduate degree in law, a postgraduate degree in business management, and a diploma in project management.
Political Milestones:
- Early Career: Began as a councillor in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation in 1992, serving two terms.
- MLA Tenure: Elected as an MLA for five consecutive terms.
- Chief Ministership:
- Served as Maharashtra’s Chief Minister from 2014 to 2019, becoming the second-youngest to hold the post after Sharad Pawar.
- Briefly held the position during the 2019 political crisis for five days amidst a coalition reshuffle.
Key Contributions as CM:
- Infrastructure Development: Launched flagship projects like the Samruddhi Expressway and Mumbai Next initiative.
- Agriculture and Welfare: Implemented the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Krishi Sanman Scheme.
- Modernization: Championed the Police Digitisation Project and expanded IT initiatives.
2024 Maharashtra Assembly Election: A Landslide Victory
The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance clinched a historic win, securing 235 out of 288 seats.
- BJP: Emerged as the largest party with 132 seats.
- Shiv Sena: Secured 57 seats.
- NCP: Won 41 seats.
Meanwhile, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a major defeat:
- Congress: Managed only 16 seats.
- Shiv Sena (UBT): Won 20 seats.
- NCP (Sharad Pawar faction): Secured 10 seats.
Looking Ahead
Fadnavis’ third term is expected to focus on strengthening Maharashtra’s infrastructure, boosting economic growth, and fulfilling the promises of the BJP’s vision for the state. The BJP’s decisive win has also reaffirmed its dominant position in Maharashtra politics.