'Maha' drama: Devendra Fadnavis takes oath as CM

Ajit Pawar takes oath as Deputy Chief Minister

In a midnight coup of sorts and unprecedented political chain of events, Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as the new chief minister of Maharashtra.

NCP supremo Sharad Pawar's nephew Ajit Pawar was sworn in as deputy chief minister.

Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari recommended to revoke President's rule and sworn in Fadnavis and Pawar at 8 am in Raj Bhavan, at a simple ceremony.

The top-secret operation was controlled from New Delhi and took place hours before the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress combine was to stake claim to form the government with Uddhav Thackeray as its leader.

While Thackeray is stunned, Pawar Sr and Congress president Sonia Gandhi's aide Ahmed Patel said that they would defeat BJP on the floor of the House.

"I have seen several such things in the political life," Pawar said.

While the Shiv Sena and Congress managed to ensure to keep their flock together, for the time being, Pawar took charge and ensured that by evening around 50 of the 56 legislators come back and completely isolate Ajit Pawar.

The Pawar nephew's close aide Dhananjay Pawar also walked into the YB Chavan Centre where the NCP supremo was camping.

Late evening, Ajit Pawar was removed as the NCP legislature party leader.