TIA correspondent
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MUMBAI: Senior Congress leader and former union minister Prithviraj Chavan was sworn in as the 22nd Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Thursday. He replaced Ashok Chavan who resigned following the Adarsh Society Scam.
Ajit Pawar of NCP was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister at a swearing-in ceremony at the Raj Bhawan. Governor K. Sankaranarayanan administered the oath of office and secrecy to Chavan his deputy Ajit Pawar and others. Nine minister from the Nationalist Congress party including Chhagan Bhujbal, R R Patil, Jayant Patil, Ganesh Naik, Lakshman Dobhale, Sunil Tatkare, Jaydutt Shirsagar, Manohar Naik and Dr. Vijaykumar Gavit were also sworn in along with CM and Dy CM. The announcement of portfolios is expected soon.
Earlier Report
Prithviraj to be new Maha CM, Ajit Pawar Dy CM
NEW DELHI/ MUMBAI: (AMN) Union Minister of state in Prime Minister’s office Prithvi Raj Chavan will be the new chief Minister of Maharashtra. Senior congress leader and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee announced his name in New Delhi Wednesday morning.
Mukherjee along with Defence Minister A K Antony met Congress President Sonia Gandhi this morning to find a successor to the outgoing Chief Minister, Ashok Chavan. Meanwhile NCP leaders are to hold meeting later in the day to take stock of situation.
Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan has accepted the resignation of State Chief Minister Ashok Chavan. Governor asked him to continue as Acting Chief minister till a decision is taken on the next Chief minister.
Chavan has handed over his resignation as Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office and the five other departments he was handling as the union minister to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Ajit Pawar, nephew of NCP Chief Sharad Pawar will be the Deputy Chief Minister. The State Power Minister Ajit Pawar was chosen as the new leader of NCP’s legislature party at a meeting in Mumbai this evening. Later briefing newsmen, Mr. Praful Patel said, there is no specific reason for removing Bhujbal and electing Pawar. Ajit Pawar said that there is no rift in the party. Prithviraj Chavan and Ajit Pawar are meeting the Governor tonight to stake claim to form the new Government.