Devendra Fadnavis will take the oath as Maharashtra's Chief Minister on December 5. The ceremony will take place at Azad Maidan in Mumbai. Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar will also assume their roles as Deputy Chief Ministers.
Key Details of the Ceremony
Fadnavis was unanimously elected leader of the Maharashtra BJP Legislative Party. On Wednesday, 132 MLAs voted in his favor. Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani attended the meeting. Afterward, Fadnavis, Shinde, and Pawar met Governor CP Radhakrishnan. They formally staked their claim to form the Mahayuti government. At a press briefing, Fadnavis called the Chief Minister's post a "technical role." He emphasized the alliance's collaborative decision-making. This event is reminiscent of 2019, when Fadnavis and Pawar were sworn in at Raj Bhavan. Before the ceremony, Fadnavis plans to visit Siddhivinayak Temple.High-Profile Attendees
The event will host around 42,000 guests. Key attendees include:- Political Leaders: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Amit Shah and Piyush Goyal, NDA state Chief Ministers, Uddhav Thackeray, and Sharad Pawar.
- Prominent Figures: Mukesh Ambani, Marathi and Hindi film celebrities, spiritual leaders, academics, and writers.
- Special Invitees: 1,000 women from the Ladki Bahin scheme.
Security Arrangements
Azad Maidan has been secured under the supervision of Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar. Over 4,000 police officers are on duty, including Quick Response Teams and bomb squads. Attendees are urged to report suspicious activity. Separate seating is arranged for 2,000 VVIPs. BJP leader Prasad Lad confirmed the event will be broadcast live on LED screens across the state. Musical duo Ajay-Atul will perform at the ceremony.Traffic Restrictions
Mumbai Police has issued traffic advisories due to the large turnout. About 280 officers will manage traffic in South Mumbai. Attendees are advised to use public transport as parking is unavailable near the venue. Key traffic diversions include:- CSTM to Vasudev Balwant Phadke Chowk: Traffic will take an alternate route via LT Road and DN Road.
- Mahatma Gandhi Road: Vehicles can use Maharishi Karve Road.
- Princess Street Bridge: Southbound vehicles will be redirected to NS Road.