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Preparations in full swing are underway at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan for the swearing-in of Maharashtra’s new chief minister on December 5.
Preparations underway at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan (Video screengrabs/IANS)
A heavy security has been placed at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, where the chief minister of Maharashtra is set to take an oath on December 5 (Thursday). According to sources, the Mumbai Police have deployed more than 2,500 cops at the site as a large crowd is expected to gather.
Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule has been overseeing preparations for the ceremony and visited the venue in south Mumbai on Monday.
Mumbai: Mahayuti leaders arrived at Azad Maidan in Mumbai to take stock of the preparations ahead of the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s oath-taking ceremony, scheduled to take place on 5th December pic.twitter.com/CE76CctTVC— IANS (@ians_india) December 3, 2024
Armed forces, a task force, and other agencies would be present to manage the crowd.
Additionally, the venue has been declared a no-flying zone for Wednesday and Thursday, and the police personnel were deployed at several high-rise buildings to keep a watch.
#WATCH | Preparations underway at Azad Maidan in Mumbai for Maharashtra Chief Minister’s oath-taking ceremony, scheduled to take place on 5th December.Senior leaders of NDA and several Chief Ministers are likely to participate in the oath-taking ceremony. pic.twitter.com/5suWr7qQmb
— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2024
Drones were also expected to be deployed to keep a vigil at the oath ceremony.
On Wednesday, sources told CNN-News18 that the state’s Caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has agreed to take on the Deputy Chief Minister’s post. However, there were also indications that the Mahayuti allies – Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may squabble over portfolios.
It was also likely that the Shinde Sena and Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction will each get a deputy chief minister’s berth, sources said.
MAHARASHTRA CM’s OATH: WHO ALL ARE EXPECTED
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the event, news agency PTI reported.
Invitations have also been extended to the chief ministers and deputy chief ministers of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)-ruled states.
Additionally, central ministers, governors and key central BJP office- bearers are also expected to be present, PTI quoted BJP sources as saying.
The BJP has also invited religious leaders, artists and writers from across the state.
“The swearing-in ceremony will showcase the spirit of the Mahayuti alliance while honouring Maharashtra’s cultural diversity,” a senior leader said, according to PTI.
THE MAHARASHTRA DEADLOCK
BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis is being considered the frontrunner for the chief minister’s post. However, the Mahayuti alliance has yet not announced a name.
Meanwhile, a state BJP legislature party’s meeting is scheduled to take place on Wednesday.
The saffron party recorded its best-ever electoral performance by winning 132 seats in the 288-member Maharashtra legislative assembly in the November 20 elections. The Mahayuti coalition won a total of 230 seats.
