Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde, Ajit Pawar Take Oath At Inauguration Ceremony
Mumbai, 6th December 2024: A brief 15-minute ceremony on Thursday marked the inauguration of the new government at Azad Maidan, concluding the intense electoral contest of recent weeks. The event turned the venue into a political hotspot as top leaders from the BJP and allied parties gathered to celebrate their victory in one of India’s largest states.
The event saw rows of seats filled with spectators, including celebrities from various fields like cinema, business, and sports, while others crowded around the periphery for standing space. A police officer estimated the crowd at 35,000 to 40,000 people. Large screens and sound systems were set up to ensure the ceremony reached every attendee.
After performances by artists like Kailash Kher, the ceremony officially began with the national anthem, followed by the state song ‘Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha.’ The crowd erupted in cheers as PM Modi arrived on stage at 5:30 pm. Cheers also rang out when newly sworn-in CM Devendra Fadnavis mentioned the word ‘mukhyamantri,’ when deputy CM Eknath Shinde mentioned his parents, and again when deputy CM Ajit Pawar took the oath.
Pawar chose not to swear on a religious text, simply saying, “I solemnly swear.” The area surrounding Azad Maidan, including CSMT railway station and the BMC headquarters, was a sea of saffron as party members wore traditional orange and saffron-coloured attire, with BJP women dressed in saffron-green saris with lotus motifs. The subway echoed with chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram,’ as party workers displayed placards bearing images of PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
While the ceremony was brief, it caused significant disruption to commuters, as public transport services were curtailed. Many office-goers were forced to walk long distances, including a pregnant woman who had to walk to CSMT after waiting unsuccessfully for a taxi. Elderly individuals and young athletes heading to training also faced delays and missed trains due to the VIP movement.
