Mumbai, November 23: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday said that the mandate in Maharashtra was with Devendra Fadnavis as a Chief Minister. Addressing a press conference, Prasad said, "Throughout the election campaign, Devendra Fadnavis' name was projected as the Maharashtra Chief Minister. The support base of BJP & the prospect of Devendra Fadnavis becoming CM played a crucial role in the success of Shiv Sena candidates." Sharad Pawar Says 8-11 NCP MLAs Hoodwinked to Attend Swearing-in Ceremony of Ajit Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray Hits Out at BJP.

"In the morning, apart from the collective claim of Bharatiya Janata Party and Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party showing a majority, there was no counterclaim in front of the Governor", the Union Minister said. Ajit Pawar Betrayed Sharad Pawar, BJP Misused Governor's Office: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut.

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Targeting Shiv Sena, Prasad said, "I don’t want to say anything about those who couldn’t stay true to Balasaheb’s ideals? Their opposition to Congress was well-known. Those who dump their entire legacy, are teaching us. Those who are willing to compromise for power, shouldn’t talk about Shivaji."

Reacting to the political development, Nitin Gadkari said that "I had earlier said anything can happen in cricket and politics, now you can understand what I meant." The Union Minister had also predicted that if Sena-NCP-Congress forms a government then it will last not more than six months.

A new government headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar was sworn-in earlier today by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. The two were sworn-in at a function in Raj Bhavan around 8 am in the presence of few BJP and NCP leaders.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar has said that he was unaware of Ajit Pawar's move and described his act as indiscipline. "Ajit Pawar’s decision is against the party line and is indiscipline. No NCP leader or worker is in favour of an NCP-BJP government… We are confident that they will not be able to prove majority on the floor test. They do not have the numbers," Pawar said at a joint press conference with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 23, 2019 03:39 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).