Amid speculations that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray is likely to skip the swearing-in ceremony of Devendra Fadnavis as Maharashtra Chief Minister, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy on Thursday said that all those who believe in democracy should participate in such occasions.
Rudy said the BJP has invited all the political parties in Maharashtra for the oath taking ceremony.
“We have extended the invitation to all the political parties in Maharashtra, which includes the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress. Oath taking ceremony is a democratic process and all those who believe in democracy should participate in such occasions. I am sure that most of the political parties will be there,” Rudi told ANI.
“I don’t think there is any reason why he (Uddhav Thackeray) shouldn’t come,” he added.
Maharashtra Governor CV Rao will administer the oath of office and secrecy to Fadnavis at a grand ceremony to be held at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium tomorrow.
BJP leaders Eknath Khadse, Sudhir Mungantiwar, Vinod Tawde, Pankaja Munde and Ashish Shelar are likely to get important portfolios in the new Cabinet.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several of his Cabinet colleagues and the Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states are expected to attend the ceremony tomorrow.
Thousands of people are expected to be present at the event. According to reports, art director Nitin Desai has been hired to create the decor for the event where prominent industrialists and Bollywood celebrities are also likely to be present. (ANI)