MUMBAI: Shiv Sena rebel leader Eknath Shinde on Thursday took oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis has taken oath as Deputy Chief Minister. Fadnavis, who had initially informed that he would not be in the cabinet, assumed the post of deputy chief minister following pressure from the BJP central leadership. Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari administered the oath in a ceremony held at Raj Bhavan at 7.30 pm.

Earlier in the day, Shinde and Fadnavis met Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari to stake a claim to form the government in the state. Initial reports had claimed that Devendra Fadnavis would be the next Chief Minister. However, Fadnavis unexpectedly announced Shinde as chief minister at the press conference.