Prithviraj Chavan takes oath as Maharashtra CM, Pawar as Deputy CMIndia News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Former Minister of State for Science and Technology Prithviraj Chavan was on Thursday sworn in as the 22nd Chief Minister of Maharashtra, while Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar took oath as Deputy Chief Minister. Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan administered the oath of office and secrecy to them at the Raj Bhawan. 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 became a Rajya Sabha MP in 2002.