18:59 (IST)
NCP leaders Jayant Patil and Chhagan Bhujbal take oaths as ministers of Maharashtra Cabinet
Bhujbal had spent over two years in jail over the Maharashtra Sadan Scam, before being released on bail. He had been a Shiv Sena strongman and was also the PWD Minister under the Congress-NCP government.
Maharashtra: NCP leader Jayant Rajaram Patil takes oath as minister in Mumbai. https://t.co/QWnDgjf9lZ pic.twitter.com/i9US6vsVvW
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2019
18:52 (IST)
Eknath Shinde, Subhash Desai take oath a ministers of Maharashtra Cabinet
Two ministers each from the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party will be sworn in as minister next.
18:46 (IST)
Uddhav Thackeray takes oath as the 19th Chief Minister of Maharashtra
Mumbai: Uddhav Thackeray takes oath as Chief Minister of Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/577XuS3QSM
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2019
18:40 (IST)
Uddhav Thackeray arrives at Shivaji Park
The Shiv Sena chief will take oath as the chief minister soon.
Uddhav Thackeray will be the eighth person to take oath as Maharashtra CM while not being a legislator. NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Congress leaders AR Antulay, Vasantdada Patil, Shivajirao Nilangekar-Patil, Shankarrao Chavan, Sushilkumar Shinde and Prithviraj Chavan are among the leaders who were not members of any of the state legislature Houses when they occupied the top post.
18:36 (IST)
Raj Thackeray present at Shivaji Park for swearing-in
Uddhav Thackeray's cousin Raj Thackeray had founded his party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena after breaking away from the party led by Balasaheb Thackeray.
BJP's Devendra Fadnavis and Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari are present on the stage too.
Mumbai: MNS Chief Raj Thackeray arrives at oath ceremony of CM designate Uddhav Thackeray and other Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/U3vonxZCmZ
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2019
18:32 (IST)
DMK chief MK Stalin is among the attendees of the swearing-in
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, who will not be attending the ceremony, wrote a letter to Uddhav Thackeray, calling his swearing-in as the chief minister "a historic event". He commended his "visionary leadership".
Mumbai: DMK Chief MK Stalin, DMK leader TR Baalu with Congress leader Ahmed Patel and NCP leader Praful Patel at oath ceremony of Uddhav Thackeray and other Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders pic.twitter.com/rKTcEIs06B
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2019
18:24 (IST)
Raj Thackeray arrives at Shivaji Park for cousin Uddhav Thackeray's swearing-in
Ahmed Patel, Kapil Sibal, Prithviraj Chavan, KC Venugopal, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sushil Shinde, Ashok Chavan and Abhishek Manu Singhvi are among the Congress leaders present on the stage at Shivaji Park.
NCP leader Praful Patel, DMK leader MK Stalin and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath are present too.
Mumbai: Shiv Sena Chief and 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' leader, Uddhav Thackeray to take oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra,shortly pic.twitter.com/GVhDmBE7o1
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2019
18:15 (IST)
Ajit Pawar reaches Shivaji Park
Shiv Sena leaders Sajnay Raut and Priyanka Chaturvedi are present at Shivaji Park too.
Ajit Pawar had been administered oath on 23 November as deputy chief minister with Devednra Fadnavis as the chief minister. He, however, resigned on 27 November and returned to the NCP fold.
18:05 (IST)
Rahul Gandhi writes to Uddhav Thackeray, will not attend swearing-in
Expressing regret about not being able to attend the swearing-in ceremony at Shivaji Park, he expressed confidence that the Aghadi alliance will be able to give Maharashtra a "stable, secure and pro-poor government".
Rahul Gandhi in a letter to Uddhav Thackeray: I am glad that Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi has come together to defeat the BJP's attempt to undermine our democracy. I regret that I am unable to be present at the function https://t.co/aa2JQCNMex pic.twitter.com/aGxGvjQaEj
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2019
17:51 (IST)
Sharad Pawar makes way to Shivaji Park
NCP supremo Sharad Pawar left for Shivaji Park from his residence to attend Uddhav Thackeray's swearing-in ceremony. He is accompanied by Supriya Sule and Sadanand Sule. even though Ajit Pawar visited Sharad Pawar's residence, he did not leave for the oath-taking ceremony's venue with him.
Meanwhile, Balasaheb Thorat and Eknath Shinde have arrived at Shivaji Park.
17:45 (IST)
First Cabinet meeting at 8 pm today
After being sworn in at Shivaji Park, Chief Minister designate Uddhav Thackeray will hold the newly-formed Maharashtra government's first Cabinet meeting at the Sahyadri guest house at 8 pm.
17:43 (IST)
Jaya Bachchan congratulates Thackeray family
Samajwadi Party MP in the Rajya Sabha Jaya Bachchan said that her family shares a deep bond with the Thackeray family. She expressed hope that the Aghadi alliance works towards the betterment of Maharashtra, provides relief to farmers and gives youth employment.
17:40 (IST)
Confident that Aghadi will implement CMP in letter and spirit, Sonia Gandhi writes to Uddhav Thackeray
In a letter addressed to Chief Minister designate Uddhav Thackeray, interim Congress chief Sonia Gandhi said that she will not be attending the swearing in ceremony at Shivaji Park today.
Stressing that the Shiv Sena, NCP, Congress have come together "under extraordinary circumstances, when country faces unprecedented threats from BJP", she added that the "political atmosphere is poisonous and the economy has collapsed".
She expressed confidence that the Aghadi alliance will implement the common minimum programme in letter and spirit.
Sonia Gandhi in a letter to Uddhav Thackeray: Shiv Sena,NCP&Congress have come together under quite extraordinary circumstances, at a time when country faces unprecedented threats from BJP. I regret that I'll not be able to be present at the ceremony (oath-taking). #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/wHs95Y7mV6
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2019
17:12 (IST)
Aghadi govt's first Cabinet meeting to be held today, says Jayant Patil
At a press conference held by the Aghadi alliance partners, Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde said apart from doing its best for the farmers, the "strong government" will take up the Nanar Refinery Project and bullet train project during the Cabinet meeting.
NCP's Jayant Patil said that the first cabinet meeting will be held later today.
17:09 (IST)
Coordination committees to be constituted for coordination among Cabinet, alliance partners
In the Common Minimum Programme, the government promises to eliminate social, educational and economic backwardness of the minority community.
Food at Rs 10 for the state’s common people and severe punishment for violators of the food and drug regulations were promised.
Two coordination committees will be constitutes – one for coordination within the Maharashtra Cabinet and the other for coordination among the alliance partners.
16:56 (IST)
Improving quality of roads, health insurance cover to all among goals of Common Minimum Programme
The Common Minimum Programme also looks at improving the quality of roads in urban areas, with separate financial provision for the same in panchayat and municipal corporations and councils.
One Rupee clinics at taluka level, super specialty hospitals in districts and health insurance cover to every citizen of Maharashtra were among the promises.
The government will also look at attracting new industries and investors to Maharashtra, with special focus on information technology.
16:50 (IST)
Women’s safety to be government’s highest priority, says CMP
The safety of women will be top priority, the Common Minimum Programme said.
Additionally, girls from economically weaker sections will be given free education and working women’s hostels will be constructed. The government will also focus on strengthening women’s self-help groups with the aim to augment women’s empowerment.
16:47 (IST)
CMP promises job reservations for locals, better education
The Common Minimum Programme assured the filling up of vacant state government posts, fellowship for educated unemployed youth and 80 percent reservation in jobs for local youths.
Additionally, increasing the standard of education in the state and education loans at zero percent interest rate to children of labourers and students from economically weaker sections were promised.
16:42 (IST)
Remunerative prices for farm produce, sustainable water supply among CMP,s promises
Committing to uphold secular values of the Constitution, the Common Minimum Programme of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, the alliance of NCP, Shiv Sena and Congress that is set to come to power in Maharashtra, mentioned immediate assistance and loan waivers to farmers in the Common Minimum Programme released at 4 pm.
The programme also promised a revised crop insurance scheme, remunerative prices for farm produce and a sustainable water supply system for drought-affected areas.
16:24 (IST)
Nawab Malik, Eknath Shinde, Jayant Patil address press conference
Sharad Pawar and other senior leaders held extensive discussions to arrive at the common minimum programme. "All aspects that will focus on development and growth of Maharashtra have been looked at," BJP's Eknath shinde said.
Shinde added that Uddhav Thackeray was elected unanimously as the leader of Maha Vikas Aghadi.
16:13 (IST)
Farmers' issues, jobs top agendas on NCP, Congress, Shiv sena's common minimum programme
Common Minimum Program of 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' (NCP-Congress-Shiv Sena alliance). pic.twitter.com/2qw2ECwRkU
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2019
15:43 (IST)
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel to attend swearing-in ceremony
Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, N Chandrababu Naidu, Amarinder Singh, Sonia Gandhi, Manomohan Singh will not be attending the ceremony at Shivaji Park, CNN-News18 reported.
15:37 (IST)
Balasaheb Thorat, Nitin Raut to be sworn in as ministers
Sources told ANI that Congress leaders Balasaheb Thorat and Nitin Raut will take oath as Ministers today at Shivaji Park.
Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath reached Mumbai to attend Uddhav Thackeray, six ministers' swearing in at Shivaji Park.
15:09 (IST)
‘Will not take oath today,’ confirms Ajit Pawar
NCP leader Ajit Pawar reconfirmed that he would not take oath as a Maharashtra minister on Thursday. "I will not take oath today. Only Chhagan Bhujbal and Jayant Patil will take oath as ministers from the NCP," Ajit Pawar told reporters after a meeting of NCP leaders at party chief Sharad Pawar's residence in Mumbai.
Two MLAs each from the allies Shiv Sena and Congress will also take oath as ministers, he said. Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray will be sworn in as the chief minister at a ceremony to be held at the Shivaji Park in Mumbai in the evening.
Ajit Pawar also dismissed reports that he was disappointed over not being sworn-in as the deputy chief minister on Thursday. "I am not at all disappointed. Do you see disappointment on my face?" he asked.
15:02 (IST)
Six MLAs to take oath today, state cabinet to be announced later this week
Ministers appointed in the state cabinet will be announced in the coming days, says NCP leader Praful Patel. "A total six leaders, two from each party, will take oath today along with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray," he further added.
14:50 (IST)
Bombay HC refuses urgent hearing on plea against Uddhav Thackeray's swearing-in today
The Bombay High Court has refused to take up urgent hearing on a petition filed by a group of lawyers seeking a stay on the swearing-in of Uddhav Thackeray as chief minister of Maharashtra on Thursday evening.
The petitioners sought an urgent hearing of their plea, saying the Shiv Sena and BJP should have stood by their pre-poll alliance and formed government.
However, two different benches of the high court refused to take up the petition for hearing. A division bench of Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Justice Bharati Dangre asked what was "unconstitutional and void" about the swearing-in ceremony of Thackeray.
The petitioner's lawyer, Mathew Nedumpara, said there has been a breach of trust of the voters, who wanted the Sena and BJP to form government. To this, Chief Justice Nandrajog said, "Is the concept of divorce not new to the law of marriages."
14:21 (IST)
Congress leader Ashok Chavan to not take oath today claims report
According to CNN-News18, Congress leader Ashok Chavan's name has been withdrawn from the list of ministers who were expected to take oath later on Thursday. This comes after the Enforcement directorate began its probe into the Adarsh Society scam.
Chavan, former Maharashtra chief minister was acquitted in the Adarsh housing scam back in 2017. The charges on the Congress leader were eased after the Bombay High Court rejected then Governor Vidyasagar Rao's sanction to prosecute him.
The CBI had chargesheeted Chavan and 22 others in connection with the alleged irregularities committed in building the housing society. The agency had accused Chavan of approving additional floor space index for Adarsh Society in return for two flats for his relatives.
14:13 (IST)
NCP leader Jayant Patil to take oath as minister today
After NCP's Chaggan Bhujbal, Jayant Patil too has confirmed that he will be taking oath in the evening along side Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray . However, Patil said his portfolio isn't yet decided.
14:12 (IST)
How did Shivaji Park play a central role in the Thackeray family?
The Shiv Sena Bhawan, the party headquarters, is just a stone's throw away from Shivaji Park. When Manohar Joshi, the first Sena chief minister, took oath, Thackeray chose Shivaji Park as the venue and not the Raj Bhawan, so that the ceremony could be attended by lakhs of Shiv Sainiks.
Aditya too was handed over the reins of Bhartiya Yuva Sena, the youth wing of the party on the same ground. When Thackeray died, he was cremated at this ground in presence of lakhs of party supporters — his memorial is located there.
Incidentally, Uddhav's cousin Raj also held the first rally of his Maharashtra Navnirman Sena at the Shivaji Park.
14:10 (IST)
Why is Shivaji Park important to the Thackerays?
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray is due to take the oath of office as Chief Minister of Maharashtra at 6.40 pm Thursday after the impasse over government formation that lasted over a month finally ended earlier this week.
From witnessing Shiv Sena's first rally in 1966 to the cremation of its founder Bal Thackeray, from the swearing-in of its first chief minister Manohar Joshi in 1995 to Udhhav Thackeray now, the Shivaji Park ground in Dadar has been central to the saffron party's politics for over five decades.
Since its inception, the ground has also seen the rise of the Shiv Sena through the four generations of the Thackerays -- Keshav, also known as Prabodhankar (social reformer), his son Bal Thackeray, Uddhav and Raj and heir apparent Aditya.
Envisaged under the Dadar-Wadala-Matunga-Sion-Mahim town planning scheme, the 28 acres playground in Dadar first came into existence in 1925-26.
In 1927, it was renamed Shivaji Park on the birth anniversary of Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji, said Ashok Rawat, a resident of Shivaji Park since last eight decades.
14:03 (IST)
Difficult to prove majority in 24 hours: Union minister Ramdas Athawale
Union minister Ramdas Athawale told ANI, that the BJP could have formed a government after showing majority, had the Supreme Court not given a deadline of 24 hours for the floor test. "Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar would not have resigned. It was difficult to prove majority in a short span of 24 hours." he alleged.
13:47 (IST)
NCP MP Supriya Sule turns emotional, recalls late father Balasaheb, mother Meenatai Thackeray
With Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray set to be sworn in as Maharashtra chief minister on Thursday, NCP MP Supriya Sule turned emotional and said the Sena chief's father late Bal Thackeray and mother Meenatai Thackeray should have been around this day.
Sule, daughter of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, said Bal Thackeray and his wife treated her with love and affection "more than a daughter" would get, and that she was missed them a lot.
Pawar and Bal Thackeray had been bitter critics of each other in the political sphere, but shared cordial relations off it. The Shiv Sena is forming government in Maharashtra with once-rivals, the NCP and Congress.
Maa Saheb and Bala Saheb - missing you so much today. Both of you should have been here today. They treated me with so much love and affection more than a daughter! Their role in my life will always be special and memorable! ☺☺🙏
— Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) November 28, 2019
13:26 (IST)
'I will take oath as minister': NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal
Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said he will take oath as minister on Thursday evening in the new Maharashtra government of the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance.
Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray is set to be sworn in as the chief minister at a ceremony to be held at the Shivaji Park in Mumbai's Dadar area in the evening. "NCP chief Sharad Pawar saheb has chosen two MLAs from the party to take oath as ministers and I am one of them. I will take oath as minister today evening," Bhujbal said.
He was speaking at an event organised in Pune to mark the death anniversary of social reformer Jyotiba Phule. Asked which portfolio he is expecting, Bhujbal said no decision has been taken on it. "Senior leaders from the party, including Pawar saheb, will decide on the portfolio issue," he added.
Earlier, an NCP source also said that party leaders Bhujbal and Jayant Patil are expected to be sworn in as ministers.
13:15 (IST)
Alliance members to address joint conference at 4 pm
Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat, Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde and NCP's Jayant Patil are to address a joint press conference at 4 pm, ahead of swearing-in ceremony of Shiv Sena chief and 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' leader Uddhav Thackeray, on Thursday, where the Common Minimum programme of the alliance is likely to be released.
13:03 (IST)
Uddhav Thackeray set to be 8th Maharashtra CM to take oath while not being MLA/MLC
Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray will on Thursday evening join the league of seven leaders who got the chief minister's post in Maharashtra when they were still not member of either the state Legislative Assembly or Council.
Congress leaders AR Antulay, Vasantdada Patil, Shivajirao Nilangekar-Patil, Shankarrao Chavan, Sushilkumar Shinde and Prithviraj Chavan are among the leaders who were not members of any of the state legislature Houses when they occupied the top post.
The then Congress leader and current NCP chief Sharad Pawar also finds name among these leaders. Thackeray, 59, to be sworn in as chief minister at the Shivaji Park on Thursday evening, will become the eighth such leader.
According to provisions of the Constitution, any leader who is not a member of the Assembly or Council has to become member of the legislature within six months of taking oath of the post.
-PTI
12:38 (IST)
Raj Thackeray to attend swearing-in ceremony today
Chairperson of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, Raj Thackeray will be attending his estranged cousin and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thakceray's oath taking ceremony at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on Thursday, reports CNN-News18. Earlier in the day, Uddhav had called Raj and invited him to the swearing-in.
The two had brothers had a fallout after Uddhav was chosen as the Sena Chief to succeed after Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray. Raj split from the family's political party to form the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena in 2005.
12:31 (IST)
Common Minimum Programme to be declared at 4 pm claims report
According to India Today sources, the Shiv Sena-Congress-NCP alliance's Common Minimum Programme is expected to be released at 4 pm on Thursday, just hours before Uddhav Thackeray's swearing-in ceremony.
12:27 (IST)
Ajit Pawar will attend swearing-in ceremony says NCP spokesperson
NCP spokesperson clarifies reports claiming Ajit Pawar has switched off his mobile phone. The spokesperson told ANI, "Ajit Pawar has not gone incommunicado, he has intentionally switched off his mobile phone to avoid frequent calls. He will attend the swearing-in ceremony"
12:17 (IST)
DMK president MK Stalin arrives in Mumbai for attending swearing-in ceremony today
DMK president MK Stalin arrived in Mumbai on Thursday to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new government of the state, led by Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray as the chief minister.
Maharashtra: DMK president MK Stalin arrives in Mumbai. He will attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new government of the state, led by Shiv Sena chief and 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' Uddhav Thackeray as the Chief Minister, today. pic.twitter.com/c0IzWQjZWY
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2019
11:58 (IST)
Shiv Sena lauds Sharad Pawar in Saamana editorial, dubs him 'margdarshak' of Maha Vikas Aghadi
With Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray set to take oath as Maharashtra's chief minister, the party on Thursday heaped praises on NCP chief Sharad Pawar and termed him 'margdarshak' (guide) of the new government in the state.
Though the Shiv Sena espouses the Hindutva ideology, it formed the 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' alliance with the NCP and Congress when the Uddhav Thackeray-led party fell out with the BJP over the issue of sharing the chief minister's post after the last month's Assembly elections.
An editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' acknowledged Sharad Pawar's efforts in taking the Sena-NCP-Congress alliance forward. A strong and experienced 'margdarshak' like Sharad Pawar is with us. This government will not function with any deceitful intention against anyone," the Sena said.
With the single largest party BJP being unable to form government, the Sena described the change in political dynamics as the "rise of a new sun" in Maharashtra.
"The current mood of happiness in the state can be equated with the one the entire country had at the time of Independence on August 15, 1947," the Marathi daily said.
-PTI
11:49 (IST)
Aarey activists hope to remind Uddhav Thackeray of his promise to them ahead of swearing-in ceremony
Ahead of Uddhav Thackeray's swearing in ceremony as the chief minister on Thursday, activists and residents fighting to prevent a Metro car shed from being built at Aarey in Mumbai hope that the Shiv Sena chief will not forget the promise he had made to declare the area a forest.
“We all are hopeful as the parties that had supported the ‘Save Aarey’ movement are coming to power. We expect that the Metro car depot will be moved out of Aarey Colony and it will be declared a forest, as they had promised time and again,” said Yash Marwah of Let India Breathe told The Indian Express.
Many activists are planning to reach Shivaji Park for the 6.40 pm oath ceremony to remind Uddhav about the promise he had made ahead of the state polls.
11:46 (IST)
Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance in Maharashtra: To counter unethical post-poll alliances, scope of anti-defection law needs widening
After the NCP, Congress Party and Shiv Sena announced their alliance, certain voters moved to Supreme Court to stop the 'unholy alliance' (as termed by them) since it defeats the electoral mandates. In recent times, as the mandate turns increasingly fractured, post-poll alliances have become inevitable in electoral politics.
In cases of pre-poll alliances, the parties function as a single unit with defined ideologies and policy objectives that have been mutually agreed upon by the parties of that alliance. The coming together of two or more parties and the agenda set by them is the basis on which voters decide whether to vote for the particular alliance or not.
Hence, it is need of the hour that the definition of the party under the anti-defection law and Constitution must be construed in broad manner so that the objective of the 10th Schedule gets accomplished. To make informed choices, the voters should know who they are voting for and in cases of post-poll alliances, this very foundational aspect of democratic politics is compromised.
11:16 (IST)
History being created today, tweets NCP leader Supriya Sule
Ahead of swearing-in ceremony of Uddhav Thackeray as CM in Mumbai today, NCP leader and MP Supriya Sule took to Twitter saying the new day will see history being created.
"Today’s sunrise is writing a new history. The government of Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi is coming to power. Uddhavji Thackeray is going to be sworn in as chief minister. We all should work towards taking Maharashtra on the growth path again. Good wishes," Supriya Sule wrote on the microblogging site.
आजचा सूर्योदय एका नवा इतिहास रचतोय.महाराष्ट्र विकास आघाडीचे सरकार राज्यात येत आहे.उद्धवजी ठाकरे मुख्यमंत्रीपदाची शपथ घेणार आहेत.देशात महाराष्ट्र पुन्हा एकदा प्रगतीपथावर घेऊन जाण्यासाठी आपण सर्वजण काम करु.अभिनंदन -@OfficeofUT
— Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) November 28, 2019
11:04 (IST)
2,000 cops to guard Shivaji Park for Uddhav's oath ceremony
At least 2,000 police personnel will guard the Shivaji Park in Mumbai on Thursday evening as part of the elaborate security arrangements being made for the swearing-in ceremony of Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray as chief minister of Maharashtra, a police official said.
The iconic venue will turn into a virtual fortress as personnel drawn from various security forces, including Quick Response Teams, Riot Control Police, State Reserve Police Force, Local Armed Police and Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad will be deployed to prevent any untoward incident.
Dog squads will also be on duty to maintain a vigil at the sprawling ground, located in Dadar area, he said. Police personnel in civil clothes will also be deployed, the official said, adding that drones and CCTV cameras will be used to monitor the crowd.
"People will not be allowed to carry any bags, including those meant to keep laptops, and water bottles inside the park," he said. Frisking of every individual will be done before being allowed to enter the venue, he added.
-PTI
10:51 (IST)
Uddhav Thackeray's elevation as Maharashtra CM will affect national politics claims Sena leader Sanjay Raut
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that the swearing-in of Uddhav Thackeray as Maharashtra chief minister will affect national politics."What is going to happen in Maharashtra will affect national politics. Maharashtra is a state which influences the politics of the entire country," Raut told media persons ahead of Thackeray's scheduled oath-taking ceremony.
He also alleged that BJP used all tactics to prevent Sena from forming the government. "From President House to Governor and ED to CBI -— everything was used," the Sena leader said, adding that the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government will complete its full term.
-ANI
10:43 (IST)
BJP making shameless attempts to 'subvert democracy in Maharashtra', says Sonia Gandhi
Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday hit out at the BJP accusing it of making shameless attempts to "subvert democracy" in Maharashtra and to blatantly sabotage the three-party alliance from coming to power in the state.
Addressing the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting in Parliament House, she also attacked the Governor of the state and said that he acted in an "unprecedented and reprehensible manner".All party MPs from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were present in the meeting.
10:39 (IST)
'How is the Josh?': Sanjay Raut tweets ahead of ceremony today
With the stage set for Uddhav Thackeray's swearing in ceremony, senior Sena leader tweeted the famous Bollywood movie dialogue "How is the Josh?" .Raut has been vocal against the former ally, BJP after the two parties sparred over the post of chief minister.
How is Josh?
— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) November 28, 2019
जय महाराष्ट्र
10:23 (IST)
NCP leaders Bhujbal, Jayant Patil, Congress' Thorat likely to take oath as ministers
NCP leaders Chhagan Bhujbal and Jayant Patil and Maharashtra Congress unit chief Balasaheb Thorat are likely to take oath as state ministers on Thursday, sources in the two parties said. The deputy chief minister's post may go to NCP MLA Ajit Pawar, they said.
NCP leader Praful Patel on Wednesday said one or two MLAs each from his party, the Shiv Sena and the Congress will be sworn in as ministers at the ceremony. "Bhujbal and Patil are expected to be sworn in as ministers from the NCP. Ajit Dada is likely to be the deputy CM. But, he is unlikely to take oath today," a source in the NCP said.
"Thorat is also expected to take oath today," a Congress source said. Former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan could be the second leader from the Congress to be sworn in as minister on Thursday. "But, a decision on this will be taken in a few hours," the source said.
Names of Ashok Chavan and another former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan are doing the rounds for the post of Assembly Speaker.
-PTI
10:17 (IST)
Time to move gears to Jharkhand: Congress leader Sanjay Jha congratulates alliance
Congratulating the Congress party for joining hands and being a part of Maharashtra's Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, party leader Sanjay Jha sounded the poll bugle for Jharkhand where elections are slated to be held from 30 November. "Congratulations to all Congress leaders and supporters on being part of #MahaVikasAghadi . But time to move gears immediately: Jharkhand. It must be won (sic)," Jha said in a tweet.
Congratulations to all Congress leaders and supporters on being part of #MahaVikasAghadi .
— Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) November 28, 2019
But time to move gears immediately:
Jharkhand. It must be won.
10:13 (IST)
'NPC's matter': Sanjay Raut on appointment of Ajit Pawar as Deputy CM
On being asked if Ajit Pawar would be appointed as the deputy chief minister, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said, "I don't know, it is NCP's matter. Sharad Pawar is the seniormost leader of 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' (Shiv Sena-Congress-NCP), what post should be given to Ajit Pawar or someone else in his party, will be decided by him."
Maharashtra CM-designate Uddhav Thackeray Swearing-in LATEST Updates: NCP leader Ajit Pawar reconfirmed that he would not take oath as a Maharashtra minister on Thursday. "I will not take oath today. Only Chhagan Bhujbal and Jayant Patil will take oath as ministers from the NCP," Ajit Pawar told reporters after a meeting of NCP leaders at party chief Sharad Pawar's residence in Mumbai.
Two MLAs each from the allies Shiv Sena and Congress will also take oath as ministers, he said. Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray will be sworn in as the chief minister at a ceremony to be held at the Shivaji Park in Mumbai in the evening.
Meanwhile, ministers appointed in the state cabinet will be announced in the coming days, says NCP leader Praful Patel. "A total six leaders, two from each party, will take oath today along with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray," he further added.
The Bombay High Court has refused to take up urgent hearing on a petition filed by a group of lawyers seeking a stay on the swearing-in of Uddhav Thackeray as chief minister of Maharashtra on Thursday evening. The petitioners sought an urgent hearing of their plea, saying the Shiv Sena and BJP should have stood by their pre-poll alliance and formed the government.
However, two different benches of the high court refused to take up the petition for hearing. A division bench of Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Justice Bharati Dangre asked what was "unconstitutional and void" about the swearing-in ceremony of Thackeray. The petitioner's lawyer, Mathew Nedumpara, said there has been a breach of trust of the voters, who wanted the Sena and BJP to form government. To this, Chief Justice Nandrajog said, "Is the concept of divorce not new to the law of marriages."
According to CNN-News18, Congress leader Ashok Chavan's name has been withdrawn from the list of ministers who are expected to take oath later in the day today. This comes after the Enforcement directorate began its probe into the Adarsh Society scam. Chavan, former Maharashtra chief minister was acquittal in the Adarsh housing scam back in 2017. Chavan got relief after the Bombay High Court rejected then-governor Vidyasagar Rao's sanction to prosecute him.
The CBI had chargesheeted Chavan and 22 others in connection with the alleged irregularities committed in building the housing society. The agency had accused Chavan of approving additional floor space index for Adarsh Society in return for two flats for his relatives.
Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat, Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde and NCP's Jayant Patil are to address a joint press conference at 4 pm, ahead of swearing-in ceremony of Shiv Sena chief and 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' leader Uddhav Thackeray, on Thursday, where the Common Minimum programme of the alliance is likely to be released.
Chairperson of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, Raj Thackeray will be attending his estranged cousin and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thakceray's oath taking ceremony at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on Thursday, reports CNN-News18. The two had brothers had a fallout after Uddhav was chosen as the Sena Chief to succeed after Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray. Raj split from the family's political party to form the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena in 2005. Earlier in the day, Uddhav had called Raj and invited him to the swearing-in.
According to India Today sources, the Shiv Sena-Congress-NCP alliance's Common Minimum Programme is expected to be released at 4 pm on Thursday, just hours before Uddhav Thackeray's swearing-in ceremony.
An editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' acknowledged Sharad Pawar's efforts in taking the Sena-NCP-Congress alliance forward. A strong and experienced 'margdarshak' like Sharad Pawar is with us. This government will not function with any deceitful intention against anyone," the Sena said.
With the single largest party BJP being unable to form government, the Sena described the change in political dynamics as the "rise of a new sun" in Maharashtra.
"The current mood of happiness in the state can be equated with the one the entire country had at the time of Independence on August 15, 1947," the Marathi daily said.
At least 2,000 police personnel will guard the Shivaji Park in Mumbai on Thursday evening as part of the elaborate security arrangements being made for the swearing-in ceremony of Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray as chief minister of Maharashtra, a police official said. The iconic venue will turn into a virtual fortress as personnel drawn from various security forces, including Quick Response Teams, Riot Control Police, State Reserve Police Force, Local Armed Police and Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad will be deployed to prevent any untoward incident.
Dog squads will also be on duty to maintain a vigil at the sprawling ground, located in Dadar area, he said. Police personnel in civil clothes will also be deployed, the official said, adding that drones and CCTV cameras will be used to monitor the crowd.
With the stage set for Uddhav Thackeray's swearing-in ceremony, senior Sena leader tweeted the famous Bollywood movie dialogue "How is the Josh?" .Raut has been vocal against the former ally, BJP after the two parties sparred over the post of chief minister. He also said that the swearing-in of Uddhav Thackeray as Maharashtra chief minister will affect national politics."What is going to happen in Maharashtra will affect national politics. Maharashtra is a state which influences the politics of the entire country," Raut told media persons ahead of Thackeray's scheduled oath-taking ceremony.
NCP leaders Chhagan Bhujbal and Jayant Patil and Maharashtra Congress unit chief Balasaheb Thorat are likely to take oath as state ministers on Thursday, sources in the two parties said. The deputy chief minister's post may go to NCP MLA Ajit Pawar, they said. NCP leader Praful Patel on Wednesday said one or two MLAs each from his party, the Shiv Sena and the Congress will be sworn in as ministers at the ceremony. "Bhujbal and Patil are expected to be sworn in as ministers from the NCP. Ajit Dada is likely to be the deputy CM. But, he is unlikely to take oath today," a source in the NCP said.
"Thorat is also expected to take oath today," a Congress source said. Former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan could be the second leader from the Congress to be sworn in as minister on Thursday. "But, a decision on this will be taken in a few hours," the source said.
Names of Ashok Chavan and another former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan are doing the rounds for the post of Assembly Speaker.
According to ANI, NCP sources have claimed that party leader Ajit Pawar is likely to be the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra but will not be taking an oath in today's ceremony. Ahead of Uddhav Thackeray's swearing-in as Maharashtra chief minister on Thursday, the Maha Vikas Aghadi of the Nationalist Congress Party, Congress and Shiv Sena on Wednesday held a six-hour meeting in Mumbai to iron out the modalities of government formation.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, NCP's Praful Patel said all issues had been sorted out and added that the deputy chief minister would be from the NCP, whereas the Assembly Speaker will be from the Congress. According to ANI, he also said that the number of ministers to be sworn in along with the chief minister will be finalised during the night. However, it is likely that one or two ministers from every party will be sworn in on Thursday, he added.
Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray on Wednesday night separately met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi and invited them for Uddhav Thackeray's swearing-in as Maharashtra chief minister. But sources told NDTV that both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi along with Singh conveyed their good wishes but said they won't be able to travel for the swearing-in ceremony. Though Rahul has distanced himself from the Sena, he lashed out at the ruling BJP in parliament over the sudden government formation in Maharashtra and said: "There is no point in my asking the question as democracy has been murdered in Maharashtra."
Aaditya Thackeray had a brief meeting with Gandhi at her 10, Janpath residence in the national capital. The Congress tweeted a photo of the two leaders from its official Twitter handle.
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray is all set to become the first from the Thackeray family to sit on the throne of Maharashtra's chief minister as he will be taking oath as chief minister at 6:40 pm at Mumbai's Shivaji Park on Thursday. Preparations are currently underway at Shivaji Park for the swearing-in ceremony which is slated to be later in the day. From witnessing Shiv Sena's first rally in 1966 to the cremation of its founder Bal Thackeray, from the swearing-in of its first chief minister Manohar Joshi in 1995 to Udhhav Thackeray now, the Shivaji Park ground in Dadar has been central to the saffron party's politics for over five decades.
Ahead of Uddhav Thackeray's swearing-in as Maharashtra chief minister on Thursday, the Maha Vikas Aghadi of the Nationalist Congress Party, Congress and Shiv Sena on Wednesday held a six-hour meeting in Mumbai to iron out the modalities of government formation.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, NCP's Praful Patel said all issues had been sorted out and added that the deputy chief minister would be from the NCP, whereas the Assembly Speaker will be from the Congress. According to ANI, he also said that the number of ministers to be sworn in along with the chief minister will be finalised during the night. However, it is likely that one or two ministers from every party will be sworn in on Thursday, he added.
Praful Patel, NCP: How many ministers will take oath will be decided tonight. 1 or 2 MLAs from each party will take oath as ministers. Speaker has been decided by all three parties, Speaker will be from Congress and Deputy Speaker from NCP. #Maharashtra https://t.co/kj45FxhIwm
— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2019
Reports suggest that during the meeting attended by leaders from all three parties including Ahmed Patel, Mallikarjun Kharge, Dhananjay Munde and Sharad Pawar, the distribution of cabinet berths was also discussed. Besides the chief minister, the Shiv Sena would get 15 cabinet berths, while the Congress and NCP would each get 13 ministerial berths, reported ANI. However, no official confirmation has been received yet.
The meeting follows Pawar's parleys with Patel, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal and others at the his Mumbai residence earlier in the day. There is speculation that Ajit Pawar, who was present at the meeting, may be inducted in the new cabinet.
Speaking to reporters after leaving the meeting, Ajit, who took oath as a MLA from the NCP said that his backing the short-lived BJP government was not a revolt and that he continued to be a member of the party. "I have been telling all that I was in the NCP, I am in NCP and will be in NCP," he said.
Even as Ajit returned to the party fold, Devendra Fadnavis said that he would comment on Ajit's resignation when the time was right.
Late on Wednesday evening, Uddhav Thackeray invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the swearing-in ceremony. Modi congratulated Uddhav, who is now set to be the chief minister.
Meanwhile, BJP chief Amit Shah lashed out at former ally Shiv Sena and reiterated that he never promised Shiv Sena the CM's post before elections. Hitting out at the Congress and NCP, he alleged that trading the chief ministers post for the support of a party with 56 seats constituted horse-trading.
"Isn't giving support in lieu of the chief minister's post greed? I tell Sharad ji and Sonia ji that they should try saying that the chief minister will be theirs and then take the support of Shiv Sena. The coalition with about 100 seats is giving the chief minister's post to the party with 56 seats, this is horse-trading," he said.
285 MLAs take oath
A special session of the 14th state Assembly was held on Wednesday where oath was administered to 285 newly- elected members by pro tem Speaker Kalidas Kolambkar who was appointed to the post by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. Legislature secretary Rajendra Bhagwat said a decision on the date for Speaker's election will be taken after the Cabinet meeting, following the swearing-in of Uddhav Thackeray as chief minister.
In a symbolic gesture, NCP MP Supriya Sule greeted her party MLAs and relatives Ajit Pawar and Rohit Pawar at the Vidhan Bhavan's entrance. The newly-elected members could not take oath earlier even one month after the results of the Assembly polls were announced due to dramatic political developments in the state.
The state remained under President's rule for 13 days between 12 and 23 November after no political party was able to form a government. The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked Koshyari to appoint a pro tem speaker and ensure all elected members of the House are sworn in on Wednesday itself by 5 pm.
The BJP-led government, which was formed with the support of NCP leader Ajit Pawar on 23 November, collapsed on Tuesday afternoon, after Pawar stepped down as deputy chief minister and Devendra Fadnavis as chief minister.
Fadnavis' resignation came a day after the Sena-led alliance paraded 162 MLAs in an unprecedented show of strength at a luxury hotel on Monday night indicating that the numbers were stacked heavily against the BJP. The alliance, which is expected to have a Common Minimum Programme(CMP), was stitched after hectic parleys involving Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar and Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi.
Once being the only second chief minister in Maharashtra to complete the full five-year term, Fadnavis now holds the dubious distinction of being the chief minister with the shortest tenure of four days in the last 59 years.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi has rallied behind Uddhav Thackeray, who is not a member of the state legislature. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut claimed the BJP made "barbaric attempts" to retain power in Maharashtra but the state's people foiled it, marking the beginning of a change in the country's politics.
Exuding confidence, Raut said it will not be surprising if the Shiv Sena forms government at the Centre after having installed its chief minister (Uddhav Thackeray) in Maharashtra. Raut, who addressed the media regularly over the past one month as he took the BJP head-on, aggressively putting forth his party's side, also said that he would not be holding regular press briefings from Thursday and revert to his work pertaining to the Sena's mouthpiece 'Saamana'.The Rajya Sabha member is also the executive editor of Marathi daily 'Saamana'.
Senior Congress leaders including Ahmed Patel met Sharad Pawar at his Silver Oak residence in south Mumbai on Wednesday to discuss issues pertaining to Maharashtra's ministerial council and oath-taking ceremony. Following the day's meeting, invitations were extended to Sonia Gandhi, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Aam Aadmi Party's Arvind Kejriwal and DMK leader MK Stalin. Aaditya Thackeray, who took oath as the Worli MLA, reached 10 Janpath on Wednesday night to invite Sonia Gandhi for the swearing-in ceremony.
Delhi: Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray at Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi's residence to invite her for the swearing-in ceremony of Uddhav Thackeray as the Chief Minister of #Maharashtra, tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/RMw65ofgD0
— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2019
Uddhav Thackeray along with wife Rashmi met Koshyari at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday raised security concerns over the swearing-in ceremony of Uddhav Thackeray as chief minister at Shivaji Park, and said holding such events at a public ground should not become a regular feature.
"We do not want to say anything about tomorrow's ceremony...we are only praying that nothing untoward happens," the court said while hearing a plea on whether the Shivaji Park was a playground or a recreation ground.
After Uddhav's swearing in, Maharashtra will have a chief minister from the Sena after 20 years. Uddhav, 59, will be sworn in as the chief minister in an evening ceremony at the sprawling Shivaji Park, where his father and Sena founder Bal Thackeray addressed his famous Dussehra rallies.
The last Sena man to occupy the chief minister's chair was Narayan Rane in 1999, after Manohar Joshi, who in 1995 became the first Sena chief minister.
Thursday's swearing in ceremony follows days of dramatic political developments, which included a three-day government formed by unexpected support from Ajit , who has since returned to the NCP fold.
With inputs from agencies
November 28, 2019 at 06:48PM
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