Outwitting the NCP-Congress' alliance with Shiv Sena, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis took oath as Maharashtra Chief Minister for the second time today, while Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP) Ajit Pawar took oath as Deputy Chief Minister of the state. (Catch all the live updates on the Maharashtra political drama here)
Ajit Pawar is nephew of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar.
The oath was administered by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at Raj Bhawan.
"People had given us a clear mandate, but Shiv Sena tried to ally with other parties after results, after which President's rule was imposed. Maharashtra needed a stable govt not a 'khichidi' govt," Fadnavis said.
Ajit Pawar, after taking oath as the deputy chief minister, said: "From result day on October 24, no party was able to form the government. Maharashtra was facing many problems, including farmers issues. So we decided to form a stable government."
The BJP, which emerged as the single largest party, could not stake claim to form a government as its ally Shiv Sena remained firm on rotating the Chief Minister's post and equal sharing of Cabinet berths.
Shiv Sena parted its ways with BJP to explore ways to form a government. It, however, failed to prove the support of the required number of MLAs in the time given by Governor Koshyari.
The Governor had then invited NCP, the third-largest party, to prove its ability to form the government failing which President's Rule was imposed in the state.
The BJP won 105 seats in the 288-member assembly followed by Shiv Sena 56, NCP 54 and Congress 44.
(With inputs from Agencies)
