Video: Eknath Shinde Starts ‘Speech’ Before Oath, Interrupted By Governor

Mumbai: 

Eknath Shinde was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Thursday evening, bringing the curtain down on nearly two weeks of ‘will he, won’t he’ suspense over the Shiv Sena leader agreeing to stand down his dream of the state’s top job, and accept a role as Devendra Fadnavis’ deputy.

The Sena boss stood up to recite the oath a little after 5.30 pm, after Devendra Fadnavis had been sworn in, but then veered off-script a little, launching into a speech thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, and also praising Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.

Eknath Shinde walked up to the microphone and Governor CP Radhakrishnan was on stand-by to read out the oath. Mr Radhakrishnan managed one word – “Mein (I)…” – before Mr Shinde took over.