Eknath Shinde is expected to take oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra on December 5, alongside Devendra Fadnavis, who is likely to be sworn in as the Chief Minister. This development comes after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) decided to elect its legislature party leader on December 4, a day before the swearing-in ceremony. Ajit Pawar from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is also expected to take oath as the second Deputy Chief Minister.¹

The Mahayuti coalition, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, won 230 out of 288 assembly seats in the recent state elections. The BJP secured 132 seats, while the Shiv Sena and NCP won 57 and 41 seats, respectively. The coalition has been in talks to finalize the cabinet berths and ministry allocations, with Shinde pushing for the home department to be allocated to the Shiv Sena.

Shinde’s oath-taking ceremony is significant, given his role as the caretaker Chief Minister. He has been hospitalised briefly due to health concerns, but is expected to recover in time for the ceremony. The swearing-in event is scheduled to take place at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders expected to attend.²

The new government is expected to prioritize key issues, including cabinet formations and ministry allocations. Shinde has reiterated his support for the BJP leadership and has expressed his willingness to work with the new government. The Shiv Sena has also clarified that Shinde’s son, Shrikant Shinde, is not in the running for a ministerial position.³

The December 5 oath-taking ceremony marks a significant milestone in Maharashtra’s political landscape. With the new government in place, the state can expect a new wave of policy initiatives and development projects. The coalition partners will need to work together to address the state’s pressing issues and deliver on their electoral promises.