Uddhav attends Fadnavis swearing-in

First sign of thaw in Sena-BJP ties

Forty-four-year-old Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra’s first Chief Minister from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took oath at a lavish ceremony in the Wankhede cricket stadium presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday.

After threatening to boycott the event, the BJP’s estranged ally, the Shiv Sena caved in. Party chief Uddhav Thackeray made an appearance after BJP president Amit Shah called and requested him to attend. Talks on a possible alliance could now move forward. “Positive discussions are on,” said Mr. Fadnavis. The Sena said Mr. Shah had assured Mr. Thackeray of a “positive response” to their demands.

However, only BJP ministers were sworn in.