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Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray was sworn in as Maharashtra Chief Minister at a grand ceremony in Mumbai’s Shivaji Park on Thursday.
Along with Uddhav, six ministers — Eknath Shinde and Subhash Desai from the Shiv Sena; Jayant Patil and Chhagan Bhujbal from the NCP and Balasaheb Thorat and Nitin Raut from the Congress — took oath.
Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari administered the oath to Thackeray and his ministers.
Other ministers will be sworn in once the government proves its majority on the floor of the House.
Mega show
Though she skipped the function, Congress President Sonia Gandhi wrote to Uddhav that the Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress have come together “under quite extraordinary circumstances at a time when the country faces unprecedented threats from the BJP”.
Many in the massive crowd at Shivaji Park were in tears when the saffron-clad Uddhav bowed down before them after taking the oath. Shivaji Park has been at the centre of Shiv Sena’s politics for over five decades now.
It was here in 1966 that Uddhav’s father Bal Thackeray addressed his first rally; it was in the very same place that he was cremated, in 2012.
Senior Congress leaders, including Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, Ahmed Patel and Kapil Sibal, attended the ceremony. MK Stalin, TR Baalu, Shankarsinh Vaghela and Uddhav’s estranged cousin Raj Thackeray marked their presence. NCP President Sharad Pawar, who is the architect of the new alliance, was welcomed with applause when he came on the dais.
Message from Modi
On the occasion, PM Narendra Modi tweeted: “Congratulations to Uddhav Thackeray Ji on taking oath as the CM of Maharashtra. I am confident he will work diligently for the bright future of Maharashtra”.
Sonia Gandhi, in her letter to Uddhav, said: “The political atmosphere has become poisonous and the economy has collapsed...farmers are facing great distress. The Shiv Sena, the 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.”
Former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tweeted: “Shiv Sena executive President Uddhav Thackeray Ji today took oath as Chief Minister. I was present. Congratulations and wish him all the best for the future”.
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