Why Devendra Fadnavis' name on oath swearing invite is being talked about

Devendra Fadnavis is set to be sworn in as the chief minister of Maharashtra tomorrow.

The senior BJP leader’s name was finalised in the BJP’s core committee meeting held on Wednesday.

Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman, former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani and the former chief minister were all present in the BJP’s core committee meet.

Fadnavis is set to take the oath of office at 5.30 pm tomorrow.

But a detail on Fadnavis’ oath-swearing invite has caught everybody’s eye.

Let’s take a closer look:

What’s different?

As per News18, the invite refers to Fadnavis as “Devendra Sarita Gangadharrao Fadnavis.”

It thus uses his mother’s name – marking the first instance of Fadnavis doing so during his political career.

As per the outlet, this is thought to be a nod to Sarita, who has been a staunch supporter of her son.

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“Everyone in the party wants him to be chief minister again. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi regards him as a son," Sarita had said.

According to The Times of India, Fadnavis in his previous swearing in ceremonies in 2014 and 2019 used the “Gangadhar" as the middle name on the invite as well as on the election affidavit.

This was the name of his later father Gangadhar Fadnavis – who was in the Jan Sangh and the BJP.

As per NDTV, Gangadhar, a state legislative council member, passed away of cancer when Fadnavis was in his teens.

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Fadnavis will be sworn in as Maharashtra Chief Minister on Thursday, after Governor C P Radhakrishnan invited him to form the new government in the state.

Two deputy chief ministers, including NCP leader Ajit Pawar, will also be sworn in at the ceremony at the sprawling Azad Maidan in south Mumbai on Thursday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A delegation of the ruling Mahayuti alliance met the Governor at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday, soon after Fadnavis was unanimously elected state BJP legislature party leader.

At the legislature party meeting held in Vidhan Bhawan, former Gujarat CM and BJP’s central observer Vijay Rupani announced that Fadnavis (54) has been unanimously elected the BJP legislature party leader.

Speaking at the meeting, BJP’s central observer and Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the “double engine government” in the state and the Centre will boost development.

Fadnavis thanked the BJP legislators for reposing trust in him, adding that the thumping victory of the ruling Mahayuti alliance in the November 20 assembly elections was due to the mantra of “Ek hai toh safe hai” given by PM Modi.

At the Vidhan Bhawan meeting, senior state BJP leader Chandrakant Patil proposed the name of Fadnavis as the legislature party leader.

Fadnavis’ name was finalised for the top post at the state BJP’s core committee meet held here ahead of the legislature party meeting.

Speaking to reporters at Raj Bhavan, Fadnavis said, “I met Eknath Shinde yesterday and told him that it is the wish of both the Shiv Sena and Mahayuti members that he should be with us in this government. I have full faith that he will be with us.”

Shinde had been camping in Thane citing health problems, sparking speculation of internal discord in the Mahayuti alliance.

However, he returned to Mumbai on Tuesday.

“I am happy that at this place around two and a half years ago, Fadnavis had recommended my name that I should become the CM. Now, we have given a letter of recommendation from Shiv Sena for Fadnavis to become CM. This government is being formed in a healthy atmosphere. I congratulate Devendra ji and wish him the best,” Shinde said.

The BJP achieved remarkable success in the November 20 Maharashtra elections, securing 132 out of the 288 assembly seats in the state, marking its best performance in the state so far.

Together with its allies Shiv Sena and NCP, the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition has a commanding majority of 230 seats.

With inputs from agencies