Devendra Fadnavis is poised to take the oath as Maharashtra’s Chief Minister at a grand ceremony in Mumbai’s Azad Maidan tomorrow, marking the start of his third term in the top role. The BJP leadership finalized his name for the Chief Minister post earlier today, ending days of speculation following the Mahayuti alliance’s sweeping victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections.

Shortly after the decision, Fadnavis’ selection was unanimously approved by the newly elected BJP legislators. He will meet Governor CP Radhakrishnan later today, accompanied by Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and NCP’s Ajit Pawar, to formally stake a claim to form the government.

Speaking at the BJP legislators' meeting, Fadnavis expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and the party leadership for their support. He acknowledged the role of BJP’s 132 MLAs in securing the alliance's success and promised to lead a “double-engine government” focused on development for Maharashtra. Fadnavis attributed the alliance's triumph to PM Modi’s slogan, “Ek hain toh safe hain,” which resonated strongly with voters.

The decision to name Fadnavis as the Chief Minister concludes an 11-day stalemate over the top post. After the Mahayuti alliance secured 230 of 288 seats in the Assembly elections, discussions surfaced about whether Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde, who had led the coalition into the polls, should retain the Chief Minister’s position. However, the BJP, which won 132 out of the 148 seats it contested, insisted on claiming the top role this time.

Eknath Shinde publicly stated that he would not hinder government formation and would abide by any decision made by Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah. While Shinde’s allies initially advocated for his continuation as Chief Minister, his bargaining power was limited, given that the BJP now requires only one of its partners to secure a majority in the Assembly. Additionally, the NCP has reportedly pledged its support to the BJP.

Despite public statements from Shinde signaling his cooperation, his supporters emphasized his significant contribution to the alliance’s electoral success. Nevertheless, with Fadnavis’ selection now finalized, the Mahayuti alliance is set to move forward under his leadership.

The oath-taking ceremony at Azad Maidan is expected to draw significant attention as Maharashtra embarks on a new chapter under the BJP-led alliance.