Workers setting up a stage for the swearing-in ceremony of Fadnavis as the chief minister, at Wankhade Stadium yesterday.

 IANS/Mumbai

 

 The swearing-in ceremony of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s first government in Maharashtra promises to be a grand affair with top personalities and celebrities expected at the Wankhede Stadium tomorrow, party officials indicated here yesterday.

Maharashtra Governor C V Rao will administer the oath of office and secrecy to chief minister-designate Devendra Fadnavis, 44, and a small initial team of cabinet ministers tomorrow evening.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, central ministers, top party leaders and party chief ministers will attend the ceremony.

Modi attended the swearing-in of the new government headed by Anandiben Patel in Gujarat on May 22, and Haryana’s M L Khattar last Sunday.

The other prominent personalities invited for tomorrow’s event include former cricket stars Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar, Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan, heads of the Ambani, Tata, Mahindra and Birla groups, diplomats in Mumbai, high court judges and leaders of various political parties.

A massive 100ft-long stage is being set up 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. Unprecedented security arrangements are being made by Mumbai police for the event.

Another 30,000-plus party activists and supporters will be seated on the stands around to witness the historic occasion.

Fadnavis was on Tuesday elected the BJP Legislature Party leader, and later staked his claim to form the government with Governor Rao.

He was invited to form the government and has been given 15 days time to prove majority in the legislative assembly since the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 122 legislators in the 288-member chamber - far short of the requisite 145 for a simple majority.

One legislator died early Monday, reducing the party’s strength to 121. Besides, it has the support of one pre-poll ally Rashtriya Samaj Paksha. The Shiv Sena, the BJP’s former ally with 63 legislators has offered support, while Nationalist Congress Party will abstain from the vote of confidence, ensuring a smooth sailing for the new government.

Meanwhile, even as congratulations and felicitations pour in for Fadnavis from all over the country and on social networking sites, the Shiv Sena has not officially commented on the chief minister-designate.

Barring regular news items in the two party mouthpieces - Saamana and Dopahar ka Saamana - no top party leader has congratulated Fadnavis.

Two days ago, the Sena had announced its willingness to support anyone selected by the BJP as the chief minister if he worked in the interests of Maharashtra’s unity and integrity.

It had speculated on the name of Fadnavis and said the Sena would support ‘whoever’ from the BJP takes over the reins of the state.

The party has also not made up its mind whether it will join the government or sit in the opposition, according to sources.

“So far, the BJP has not sent any proposal for seeking our support or joining the government ...Support has to be sought, it can’t just be given .... Depending on the next development, the party will take an appropriate decision,” said a Sena leader.

Party spokesman Neelam Gorhe said that the Sena will take a decision which will be in the best interest of the state.

Before leading the BJP to victory in Maharashtra, the unassuming Fadnavis had lent subtle touches to the party’s poll campaigns in 2007 and 2012 in neighbouring Goa.

And many remember the soft-spoken politician who was the BJP’s man in charge for the constituencies of Saligao and Aldona, both in North Goa.

“I found him simple and down to earth. He stayed at a modest hotel along the Porvorim highway and was very punctual in keeping his appointments. He would be ready by 8am sharp and we would discuss strategies over a cup of tea before proceeding for campaigning work,” says Juino De Souza, a BJP leader.

Then a sitting legislator elected from the Nagpur constituency, Fadnavis’ traits as a cool customer and a canny political player were evident on election trail then, De Souza says.