New govt will have first House session on July 2-3

A triumphant Eknath Sambhaji Shinde arrived for his swearing-in ceremony as CM on Thursday evening with his infant grandson in arms and later took oath after invoking Sena founder Bal Thackeray and his mentor Anand Dighe.

- Clara Lewis, Priyanka Kakodkar & Prafulla Marpakwar

Mumbai: By contrast, Devendra Fadnavis looked visibly uncomfortable at Raj Bhavan. The new government will have its first assembly session on July 2 and 3, when the new speaker of the state assembly will be elected and the vote of confidence motion considered. The speaker's post has been lying vacant since Nana Patole resigned more than a year ago.

"It is the large-heartedness of Fadnavis to give up the CM's post for one of Balasaheb's Shiv Sainiks although BJP has the support of 120 MLAS," said Shinde, who claims the support of 50 MLAs. He said this was a "historic moment" and was not motivated by posts or ambition.

The alliance also has the support of 16 smaller parties and Independent MLAs.

Will stay out, Fadnavis said first

Mumbai: The BJP's decision to cede the top post was aimed at shaking off its image as a party lusting for power after its short-lived fiasco in 2019 when Fadnavis had joined hands with NCP's Ajit Pawar. It may have also wanted to negate the charge that a chief minister from the Shiv Sena had been unseated in the revolt to be replaced by one in the deputy chief minister's post. In addition, having Shinde as chief minister is a blow to the morale of the Shiv Sena ahead of the high-stakes municipal polls in its bastion, Mumbai, this year.