Uddhav Thackeray's presence during Maharashtra CM swearing-in ceremony 'heartening': BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday hailed Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's presence during the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, calling it a positive and heartening step.

"We had Uddhav Thackeray, his wife and the whole family on the stage. I think it is a very positive and a heartening step taken by Thackeray to be present on the stage in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," BJP general secretary Rajiv Pratap Rudy told the media. Rudy further termed Thackeray's presence during the ceremony as a 'good beginning' for the politics of Maharashtra.

"Thackeray's presence was a momentous occasion for the people of Maharashtra. I think it is a good beginning for the state of Maharashtra and politics of Maharashtra," Rudy said.

Earlier on Friday, Devendra Fadnavis took oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra in the presence of Prime Minister Modi and several other BJP stalwarts at a grand function at the Wankhede Stadium here. Thackeray, who had earlier decided to boycott the event, was also present during the swearing-in-ceremony.