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Devendra Fadnavis takes oath as CM, Eknath Shinde & Ajit Pawar are sworn in as deputies; no other minister was sworn in as PM had only 30 minutes to spare

After notching up a spectacular victory in the state assembly elections, the Mahayuti government assumed the reins of power once again but with a difference - this time, it will be steered by BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, who returns to the coveted post after five years.

The Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde, who served as the CM from June 2022 till date was finally sworn in as one of the two deputy chief ministers after initial hiccups along with NCP (Ajit Pawar) chief Ajit Pawar, who will serve in that position for a record sixth time.

The grand event, being held at Azad Maidan, was initially to have been an oath-taking event for all the cabinet members from the three-party coalition, was cut short, as no other minister joined the cabinet. It is being said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had especially come from Delhi, had only a half hour to spare. Given this premier time constraint, the swearing-in of other ministers was postponed.

According to CM Fadnavis, the rest of the members of his cabinet will take oath before the winter session of the state legislature scheduled to begin from December 16, at Nagpur.