Maharashtra’s New Chief Minister to Take Oath on December 5

The swearing-in ceremony for Maharashtra’s 31st Chief Minister is scheduled for December 5 at 1 p.m. at Azad Maidan near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in south Mumbai, as announced by BJP MLA and State Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Saturday. The event will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, several central ministers, and chief ministers from BJP-ruled states and allies.

While the BJP has yet to formally elect Devendra Fadnavis as the legislature party leader, sources indicate that he is set to take the oath as Chief Minister for the third time. Fadnavis previously served as the Chief Minister from 2014 to 2019 and briefly held office with Ajit Pawar as Deputy Chief Minister for a short 80-hour period before the government collapsed. The BJP has ruled out other candidates, asserting Fadnavis as the natural choice.

The BJP’s legislature party meeting to elect its leader is expected on Monday, after which Fadnavis, along with Shiv Sena and NCP, will present their claim to form the government to Governor CP Radhakrishnan. In the recent Assembly elections held on November 20, the MahaYuti coalition secured a landslide victory, with the BJP winning 132 seats, Shiv Sena 57, and NCP 41. Although CM Eknath Shinde led the coalition during the elections, the BJP has confirmed that it will retain the Chief Minister’s position.

Discussions regarding cabinet appointments are ongoing and are expected to conclude by Tuesday. Meanwhile, State BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule has instructed newly elected MLAs on the post-formation protocol, encouraging broad participation in the swearing-in ceremony.