Eknath Shinde took the oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Thursday evening, following days of uncertainty over his acceptance of the role. The Shiv Sena leader had reportedly been reluctant to give up his aspiration for the Chief Minister's position but eventually agreed to serve as deputy to Devendra Fadnavis, who was sworn in earlier in the ceremony.

The oath-taking, which occurred shortly after 5:30 pm, did not go entirely as planned. As Shinde began reciting the oath, he deviated briefly to express gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray. He also acknowledged his political mentor, the late Anand Dighe. His impromptu remarks left Governor CP Radhakrishnan and others in attendance momentarily puzzled. However, Shinde quickly returned to the formal text and completed the ceremony.

Following the event, Shinde’s office announced plans for him to visit memorials dedicated to Balasaheb Thackeray in Mumbai’s Colaba and Anand Dighe in Thane.

Earlier in the day, uncertainty loomed over whether Shinde would attend the ceremony at all. According to sources within his party, he had been reevaluating his role in the new government after being edged out of the race for Chief Minister. His hesitation was seen as a strategic move to secure influential cabinet positions for the Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction.

In the new government, the BJP is expected to retain around 20 cabinet positions, while the Shinde faction will reportedly receive about 12. These are anticipated to include high-profile ministries such as Home, Water Resources, and Public Works. However, final portfolio allocations remain unconfirmed.

This development marks a significant step in resolving the power struggle that followed Maharashtra's recent elections, setting the stage for the state’s new leadership to take shape.