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Tribune News Service
Mumbai, November 28
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray was sworn in as Maharashtra CM at a grand event in Mumbai’s Shivaji Park where his father Bal Thackeray founded the party more than 53 years ago. The first in the family to hold political office, Thackeray (59) was sworn in by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. He will head a coalition government under the banner of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
Six ministers — Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde and Subhash Desai, NCP’s Jayant Patil and Chhagan Bhujbal and Congress’ Balasaheb Thorat and Nitin Raut — were sworn in immediately after Uddhav.
NCP leader Ajit Pawar, who revolted against his uncle and party founder Sharad Pawar, nearly aborting efforts at an MVA government, also attended the ceremony. His supporters claimed he would be back as Deputy CM next week. A stage depicting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was raised overnight by Bollywood set designer Nitin Desai. High on symbolism, the event played up the importance of the regional Shiv Sena and NCP in the incoming government. True to his Hindutva image, Uddhav came clad in saffron and bowed before the statue of Chhatrapati before taking oath in Marathi. Amid the sounds of the Maharashtrian ‘tutari’, a wind instrument, Sena workers, many of them women decked in finery, danced vigorously.
Mumbai celebrities were present in good numbers. Industrialist Mukesh Ambani, his wife Nita and son Anant shared the spotlight with DMK leaders Stalin and TR Baalu. Uddhav’s estranged cousin Raj Thackeray, who was personally invited by him, was there too. However, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and her children skipped the ceremony. Sonia and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee sent their congratulations. Maharashtra leaders were present in good numbers. Discarding rancour, former CM Devendra Fadnavis cheered for the cameras.
While Uddhav paid tributes to Chhatrapati Shivaji, Sena leader Eknath Shinde paid tributes to former party colleague Anant Dighe from Thane, who died in an accident. NCP’s Jayant Patil, who replaced Ajit Pawar as Leader of the Legislature Party, thanked Sharad Pawar after the oath-taking ceremony. His colleague Chhagan Bhujbal, a prominent OBC leader, invoked Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and his wife Savitribai, who championed the education of women in the state.
Later, Uddhav visited Siddhivinayak Temple after the ceremony and later held a Cabinet meeting.