Uddhav takes over as CM, Parties pledge to uphold secular values

Mumbai, Nov 28:  Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday took over as the 18th Chief Minister of Maharashtra with the pledge to ‘uphold secular values’.
The Common Minimum Programme announced by Sena, NCP and Congress – known for their diametrically opposite ideologies – pledged to uphold secular values “enshrined in the constitution”.
“The preamble of the Common Minimum Programme as envisioned by the new govt of Maharashtra illustrates the values and intentions of the Coalition and sets in a motion a new journey of progress for Maharashtra,” the Congress party said in a tweet.
The CMP stated: “On contentious issues of national importance as well as state importance especially having repercessions or consequences on the secular fabric of the nation, the Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress will take a joint view after holding consultations and arriving at a consensus”.
The 59-year-old Uddhav is the third Sena leader and first from the Thackeray family to occupy the post.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Uddhav Thackeray on taking oath as the CM of Maharashtra. “I am confident he will work diligently for the bright future of Maharashtra,” he tweeted.
Eknath Shinde, Subhash Desai (both Shiv Sena), Jayant Patil, Chhagan Bhujbal (both NCP), Balasaheb Thorat and Nitin Raut (both Congress) were sworn in as ministers.
The BJP emerged as the single largest party winning 105 seats. The Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress won 56, 54 and 44 seats respectively in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly.
A special session of the 14th state Assembly was held here on Wednesday where oath was administered to 285 newly- elected members by protem Speaker Kalidas Kolambkar.
Now Uddhav Thackeray has been asked to prove his majority in the floor of the state assembly by December 3.
“We will see how far their three-wheeler cart go. Only Sharad Pawarji is keeping this unnatural alliance together,” said BJP leader Poonam Mahajan.