Uddhav takes charge as Maharashtra CM

Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday afternoon formally took charge as the chief minister of Maharashtra.

Mr Thackeray, who is heading the ‘Maha Vikas Aghadi’, was inaugurated as the 19th chief minister of Maharashtra on Thursday, along with six ministers — two each from the Sena, NCP and the Congress.

In the morning, he started out from Matoshree, his residence in Bandra (East). On his way to Mantralaya, he also stopped at Hutatma Chowk to pay tribute to the martyrs of the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement.

Hutatma Chowk, formerly known as Flora Fountain, was renamed in 1961 in the honour of activists who lost their lives when police fired upon their peaceful demonstration in 1956.

Scores of Sena workers and IAS officers were waiting at Mantralaya to welcome the new chief minister, who was accompanied by his son Aaditya Thackeray.

Once inside Mantralaya, Mr Thackeray paid floral tribute to the portrait of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

After taking a charge as the chief mnister, Mr Thackeray held a meeting with his secretaries. He instructed officers to be careful while using funds for development work.

“Use funds carefully and take speedy steps for the sake of development. People should start realising that this is my government. With a lot of faith, the public chose me as a the chief minister,” he said.

Mr Thackeray, the first member of the politically powerful family to occupy the top post, also held his first press conference at Mantralaya

In the meeting, he announced a stay on the metro car shed at Aarey colony, a poll promise of his party.