Top political leaders, business dignitaries and major Bollywood actors were among the thousands who thronged Mumbai’s Azad Maidan on Thursday as BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as Maharashtra’s 21st chief minister, the biggest-ever swearing-in. Ceremonies in the state in recent years.
The ceremony was held in the middle of three huge stages constructed at Azad Maidan with a huge banner proclaiming ‘Maharashtra Ata Thambanar Nahi’ (Maharashtra will not stop now) as the positive and development oriented theme of the new government led by Devendra Fadnavis. .
As there was a cultural program on one stage, the third was occupied by specially invited religious gurus and saints.
Former Shiv Sena CM Eknath Shinde and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Ajit Pawar were also sworn in as the two deputy chief ministers in a grand ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with top national and state leaders of the ruling coalition.
As Shinde rose to take oath, he remembered Shiv Sena founder Late Bal Thackeray, his political mentor Late Anand Dighe and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Maharashtra’s 130 million population, Governor CP Radhakrishnan. Stopped him and asked him to continue swearing instead.
Among the three leaders, the biggest cheer came when Shinde walked to the mic to take the oath.
Most of the country’s political leaders were on the stage, while industrialists and film industry leaders were present in the first row. These include industrialists Mukesh Ambani, Anil Ambani, Anant Ambani, Kumar Mangalam Birla and Deepak Parekh.
On the occasion, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Madhuri Dixit, Vidya Balan, Ranveer Singh, Ranveer Kapoor, Janhvi Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor and other Bollywood stars were present.
Despite the swearing-in ceremony of the tripartite coalition government, it was unmistakably dominated by the BJP. A special performance of Devendra Fadnavis’ campaign song was also held in the cultural program organized before the program.
Crowds of thousands danced and cheered with songs calling for the hoisting of the saffron flag once again in Maharashtra and the handover of power to those who play Lord Rama loudly.
Renowned singers and composers Kailash Kher, Ajay-Atul gave an upbeat performance to entertain the audience.
People from all over the state came to Mumbai to attend the swearing-in ceremony. These mainly include party workers and officials as well as beneficiaries of government schemes.
A group of Koli community dressed in their traditional clothes reached the gate of Azad Maidan and showed their enthusiasm by singing Koli songs.
“I am here with all my Koli brothers and sisters to celebrate the return of the Mahayuti. It is a historic moment and we could not miss being here,” said Sada Rahate of Airoli Gauthan.
“The government started the Ladki Bahin Yojana, which we want to continue and request the new government to pay more attention to housewives,” said Purnima Bhandari, a housewife from Meera Road.
Archana Kardak, a BJP party worker from Goregaon, who was in the front row at the function along with a group of around fifty women, said, “Mahayuti Alliance’s massive turnout in the elections is a result of the government’s focus on women. Empowerment which no government has paid attention to before. Really good job for the party to put women at the centre.” done and everyone is undoubtedly happy with the work of the Shinde-Fadnavis government.
Ruturaj Karandikar, who describes himself as a fan of Devendra Fadnavis, came from Pune to witness the swearing-in ceremony.
“Being a die-hard fan of Devendra ji, this function is exciting. I knew that Devbhau will return as promised last time,” he said.
Karandikar and his friends then chanted the rally slogan: “Punha aala, ek pant, lakho shant (He is back. An pant – a term used for a person from the Brahmin community – silences lakhs)”.
(With input from Sapna Dodmani)