Maharashtra political drama ends, Uddhav sworn in as CM
CMP focuses on issues of the farmers, unemployment problems, minorities and housing, girls, women’s issues, besides problems plaguing industry, health sector and other fields for the overall public benefit in state
Shiv Sena President Uddhav B. Thackeray was sworn-in as the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra in a grand function held at the Shivaji Park here on Thursday evening.
Governor BS Koshyari administered the oath of office and secrecy to Uddhav Thackeray, 59, who sported a striking saffron coloured kurta-pyjama, the Sena party’s colour. In an unusual gesture, soon after completing the formalities, Uddhav Thackeray stepped to the front of the stage and knelt down, touched his hands and head on the floor to express his gratitude to the people of Maharashtra for the honour bestowed on him.
Besides, two legislators each from the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and Congress, the key constituents of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), took oath as ministers.
They are: Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde and Subhash Desai, NCP’S Jayant Patil and Chhagan Bhujbal, and Congress’ Balasaheb Thorat and Nitin Raut.
Among the prominent dignitaries present on the occasion were more than 500 farmers and farm widows from all over Maharashtra, Uddhav
Thackery’s cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray, industrialist Mukesh Ambani, his wife Nita Ambani and their family members.
Also present were at least three Chief Ministers from other states and six former Maharashtra Chief Ministers, including Sharad Pawar, Sushilkumar Shinde, Manohar Joshi, Prithviraj Chavan, Ashok Chavan and Devendra Fadnavis.
In a major deviation from its known pro-hindut va stance of the past 30 years, the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi announced a “secular, allinclusive” Common Minimum Programme (CMP) as it prepared to form the new Maharashtra government in alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress on Thursday.
The preamble of the three parties’ Common Minimum Programme states: “The alliance partners commit to uphold the secular values enshrined in the Constitution. On contentious issues of national importance as well of state importance especially having repercussions/consequences on the secular fabric of the nation, the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress will take a joint view after holding consultations and arriving at a consensus.” The CMP focuses on hugely on the burning issues of the farmers, unemployment problems, minorities, downtrodden sections, urban roads and housing, girls and women’s issues, besides problems plaguing the industry, health sector and other fields for the overall public benefit in the state.
The CMP was announced at a joint press conference by Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde, NCP’S Jayant Patil, NCP national spokesperson Nawab Malik and Congress’ Balasaheb Thorat.
Spelling cheers for Mumbaikars, the MVA government said it will provide homes of 500 square feet free of cost to slumdwellers instead of 300 square feet in Mumbai as well as across Maharashtra, under the Slum Rehabilitation Programme, with best infrastructure and basic facilities.
The CMP also promises wholesome meals for only Rs 10 for common citizens, which was part of the Sena’s original election manifesto.
To ensure proper implementation of the CMP, two committees - one within the state cabinet and another among the three alliance partners - will be formed for better coordination, they said.
Among the CMP’S major highlights are: immediate loan waiver to farmers, prompt assistance to farmers suffering due to unseasonal rains and floods, revising the crop insurance scheme to ensure immediate compensation to farmers who have suffered crop losses, ensuring remunerative prices for farm produce and sustainable water supply schemes for the drought-hit regions.
To address unemployment, the MVA regime will take immediate steps to fill up all vacant posts in the government, enact a law to provide 80 per cent jobs to domiciled locals, and provide fellowships to educated unemployed youth.
For women, girls from economically weaker sections will be given free education, working women’s hostels will be built in cities and district headquarters, increased honorarium and better service conditions for anganwadi sevikas/ asha workers, strengthening women’s Self Help Groups to empower them, while highest priority will be accorded to safety of women by the government.