As Maharashtra's Chief Minister-designate, Devendra Fadnavis, prepares to take oath tomorrow, the focus is back on a possible regrouping of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its estranged ally Shiv Sena.
Sena will discuss on taking a call on joining hands with the BJP in a meeting to be held today evening in Mumbai. In an editorial today, Sena's mouthpiece, Saamna, reached out to the BJP, and warned it against taking the Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP's) support.
It also warned that a minority government is unconstitutional and is akin to enjoying power without responsibility. At the end of its tether, after being put on hold by the BJP on whether or not it would part of its government, the Shiv Sena has questioned the legitimacy of running a minority government.
An editorial in the party mouth-piece Saamna said that a minority government is akin to enjoying power without responsibility. The swearing-in ceremony of the BJP's first government in Maharashtra will be held at Wankhede Stadium tomorrow. Maharashtra Governor CV Rao will administer the oath of office and secrecy to chief minister-designate Devendra Fadnavis, and a small initial team of cabinet ministers.
BJP Leaders like Eknath Khadse, Sudhir Mungantiwar, Vinod Tawde, Pankaja Munde and Ashish Shelar are likely to get important portfolios in the cabinet. Mumbai Cricket Association will charge no fee for lending its Wankhede Stadium for hosting swearing-in ceremony.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several of his Cabinet colleagues, Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states will attend the ceremony where prominent industrialists and Bollywood celebrities are also likely to be present. According to BJP sources, about 30,000 people are expected to be present at the event for which art director Nitin Desai has been hired to create the decor.
A massive 100-feet-long stage is being erected in one corner of the stadium, which normally hosts cricket matches and occasionally mega-weddings, with a special seating arrangement for around 2,500 VVIPs, along with unprecedented security arrangements made by Mumbai Police for the event. Meanwhile, Maharashtra's Chief Minister-designate Devendra Fadnavis left for Delhi today to invite senior BJP leaders for the swearing-in ceremony and also to discuss on the government formation in Maharashtra.