Maha goof-up: Maharashtra administration erred with spelling of Fadnavis's name

Mumbai, Nov 3: Devendra Fadnavis might have taken over charge of new Government in Maharashtra, but it seems the State administration still doesn't know the spelling of the new Chief Minister.

The State administration, despite getting enough time for preparation, wrote the wrong spelling of Fadnavis' name in the invitation cards for the swearing-in ceremony. The invitation cards sent on the behalf of chief secretary of the Maharashtra, Swadhin Kshatriya to hundreds of VIPs and journalists. The card read surname of Devendra Fadnavis as 'Fadanvis', says a DNA report.

This goof-up by the State administration left some of the invitees amused. "This was not expected from the State administration. How come no one -- from the printer to proof readers to officers and Kshatriya himself -- could spot it," said an invitee.

Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in on Friday as Chief Minister of Maharashtra's first BJP government along with nine ministers, cheered by some 30,000 supporters at the Wankhede stadium and watched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, VIPs and celebrities.

Governor C.V. Rao administered the oath of office and secrecy to Fadnavis, 44, and the ministers, including two women, at a glittering ceremony, 12 days after Maharashtra threw up a hung assembly with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) finishing on top.

After taking oath, the minority government got down to business. The 'Mr Clean' moved into his office and presided over the first cabinet meeting at Mantralaya, the government headquarters. Besides Modi and Shah, BJP chief ministers from other states, business tycoons, Bollywood personalities, sportspersons and celebrities were among those who witnessed the ceremony.

Hailing from Nagpur where he created history in 1997 by becoming the state's youngest mayor at 27, Fadnavis is the 18th chief minister and the second Brahmin and the fourth from Vidarbha region to hold the post. Handpicked by Modi and Shah over several other contenders, the lawyer-turned-politician was cheered loudly by the army of BJP activists that had packed the stadium.

OneIndia News