Devendra Fadnavis to take oath with 200 VVIPs on stage

Mumbai: Since the BJP has had a historic win, it wants the swearing-in ceremony of its Maharashtra Cabinet to be historic as well and a glimpse of this could be seen in the standard of preparation for the big day. Wankhede Stadium, which will witness its first swearing-in ceremony in the last 40 years on October 31, will have a grand stage divided into three sections with a capacity of 200 VVIPs.

 The stadium will have a 150-feet curve LED screen for the gathering. The promenade alongside stadium will be decorated with 25 lotuses in the sea on boats. The new Cabinet, headed by Chief Minister designate Devendra Fadnavis, will also have a victory lap in the stadium after the concluding the ceremony. Famous art director Nitin Desai has been roped in to design the stage that will showcase ancient and modern Maharashtra.

 “Considering the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be present for the oath taking ceremony, along with other VVIPs, the stage has been divided into three different sections. The Governor and CM will have seating arrangements in the middle section, while ministers who will take the oath and VVIPs will be seated on either side of the stage,” said Mr Desai.

 “The screen will have virtual images of Chhatrapati Shivaji along with Meghdambari of Raigad fort,” he added. Meanwhile, as the BJP prepared for the inauguration of its first government in Maharashtra under Devendra Fadnavis on Friday, its estranged partner Shiv Sena has said it will announce its decision on whether it will be part of the BJP-led ministry on Thursday.

 “We met Uddhav Thackeray ji and discussed the future course of action with him. The wait is over now, just one more day. We will announce our decision tomorrow,” Sena MP Sanjay Raut told reporters on Wednesday night after Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray held several rounds of talks with top party leaders during the day.