Prithviraj Chavan to take oath as Maharashtra CM

Mumbai, Nov 11 (ANI): Former Minister of State for Science and Technology Prithviraj Chavan will be sworn-in as the 22nd Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Thursday, while Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar will take oath as Deputy Chief Minister.

Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan will administer oath of office and secrecy to them at 4.30 p.m. at the Raj Bhawan today.

Both Chavan and Pawar met Governor Sankaranarayanan late on Wednesday night and staked a claim to form the new Government in the State.

After his meeting with the Governor, Chavan told reporters that he has the support of 170 MLAs in the 288-strong assembly.

"The Governor has invited me to form the next government," he said.

Chavan's name was formally announced after he met Congress President Sonia Gandhi at her 10 Janpath residence on Wednesday.

Chavan held several key assignments in the Union Cabinet.

He was closely involved in the passage of the Indo-US nuclear deal, was monitoring important Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cases and was currently Minister of State not only in the PMO, but also in the Science and Technology, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Parliamentary Affairs ministries.

Chavan (64) has won three Lok Sabha elections from Karad in Maharashtra's Satara District.

He is also a member of the Rajya Sabha. (ANI)