Uddhav Thackeray Appointed Chief Minister Nominee By 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' Coalition

Uddhav Thackeray has been chosen as the leader and chief ministerial candidate of the 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' alliance comprising the Shiv Sena, the Congress and the NCP. The resolution proposing Uddhav Thackeray's name as the CM candidate and leader of the alliance was passed unanimously by all MLAs during a joint meeting of the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress. NCP chief Sharad Pawar presented a bouquet of flowers to Uddhav Thackeray after being chosen as the leader of the coalition.

The representatives of the Shiv Sena-Congress-NCP alliance will now meet the Governor and stake claim to form the government. The swearing-in ceremony of Uddhav Thackeray will be held on November 28 at Shivaji Park in Mumbai, said Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat.

Maharashtra NCP chief Jayant Patil proposed Thackeray’s name as "the (next) chief minister". State Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat seconded the proposal. The meeting was attended by NCP chief Sharad Pawar, senior party leader Praful Patel, Congress leader Ashok Chavan, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana’s Raju Shetti, Samajwadi Party’s Abu Azmi, MLAs of all these parties and others.

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Uddhav will be the first member of Thackeray family to occupy the top political post in the state. The development has come hours after three-day-old Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis resigned from the post following a Surpeme Court order asking him to prove majority within 24 hours.

After being elected as the CM nominee, Uddhav Thackeray thanked Congress President Sonia Gandhi and vowed to work for the betterment of the state. "I had never dreamed of leading the state. I would like to thank Sonia Gandhi and others. We are giving a new direction to country by keeping faith on each other.

"I accept the responsibility given by all of you. I'm not alone but you all are CM with me. What has happened today is the actual democracy. Together we will wipe off the tears of farmers in the state," he said.