Maharashtra power twist LIVE updates: Uddhav Thackeray's 'surgical strike' jibe at BJP during NCP-Sena presser

In a major turn of events, Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in on Saturday (November 23) morning for a second term as Maharashtra Chief Minister. NCP leader Ajit Pawar was sworn in as the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra. Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari administered the oath of office to the two leaders at Raj Bhawan. This development comes hours after it was almost confirmed that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will be the next chief minister of Maharashtra. Follow ibtimes.co.in's LIVE blog for latest updates.

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the BJP and Ajit Pawar-led majority had collective numbers to form the Maharashtra government. Whereas, the NCP-Congress-Sena failed to provide a mandate to form the government, claimed Prasad.

Addressing a press conference, Union Minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "Maharashtra people's mandate was for Fadnavis government." Prasad also said that Sena won because of us.

Calling it a conspiracy, Prasad said that NCP-Sena-Congress wants to capture India's financial capital, Mumbai. 

Senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjar Raut said that NCP's Ajit Pawar was blackmailed into joining hands with the ruling BJP. Raut also said that this will be exposed soon. "NCP leader Dhananjay Munde has been contacted. Ajit Pawar may also return (to NCP fold)," Sanjay Raut told news agency ANI.

Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel said, "Today was a black spot in the history of Maharashtra. Everything was done in a hushed manner and early morning. Something is wrong somewhere. Nothing can be more shameful than this."

Union Minister and BJP leader, Nitin Gadkari on Maharashtra government formation: "I had earlier said anything can happen in cricket and politics, now you can understand what I meant."

• Around 10-11 MLAs are with Ajit Pawar, says NCP chief
• Ajit's decision totally against NCP
• NCP says: All MLAs with Ajit in touch with us
• Taken to Raj Bhawan without consent, say MLAs who went with Ajit Pawar
• Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray says, 'BJP breaking all rules'
• BJP trying to stay in power by breaking parties: Uddhav

NCP supremo Sharad Pawar is saying that the NCP-Congress-Sena had the numbers to form the government in Maharashtra.

The NCP-Shiv Sena presser has begun with NCP chief Sharad Pawar addressing the media. While, the Congress party had decided not to be the part of the presser.

Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP) Supriya Sule receives Shiv Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray and Aditya Thackeray outside YB Chavan Centre, where Congress-NCP-Shiv Sena will address the media shortly.

Congress leader Milind Deora took to Twitter to quote the line from the classic, "The Godfather". "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer."

NCP leader Ajit Pawar may be expelled from the party at the NCP meet today at 4 pm. 

Here's how it happened:

Sometime around 11.45 night - Ajit Pawar-BJP Deal finalised.

11.55 pm Friday - Fadnavis speaks to Party and requests for swearing-in before anyone in Sena-NCP-Congress comes to know and stakes claim.

12.30 am Saturday - Governor who was to travel out of Mumbai to New Delhi, cancels his travel

2.10 am - Secy to Governor told to submit revocation order at 5.47 and arrange swearing in at 6.30 a.m.

2.30 am - Secy informs he will submit file within two hours and advises 7.30 a.m. for swearing in as arrangements have to be made early on Saturday.

11.45 pm -on Friday till Saturady 9 a.m. - Ajit Pawar stays put with Fadnavis, not to go back till sworn in.

5.30 am - both Ajit and Fadnavis arrive at Raj Bhavan

President's Rule revoked at 5.47 am, but announced at 9 am.

7.50 am - Swearing in starts by Governor B.S. Koshyari

8.10 am - Big news breaks

8.40 am - PM Modi congratulates new CM and Dy CM

8.10 am - Reactions start pouring in

Senior NCP leader and daughter of Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule's latest Whatsapp status is 'Party and family split'. Her office has also confirmed her statement.

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi took to Twitter saying: "Surreal wht I read abt #Maharashtra. Thought it was fake news. Candidly &personally speaking, our tripartite negotiations shd not have gone on for more than 3 days...took too long. Window given was grabbed by fast movers. #pawarji tussi grt ho! Amazing if true, still not sure."

Devendra Fadnavis takes oath as Maharashtra Chief Minister for the second time. The oath administered by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at Raj Bhawan.

NCP leader Ajit Pawar takes oath as Deputy CM of Maharashtra. The oath is administered by Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at Raj Bhawan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to congratulate Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis soon after he took oath with Ajit Pawar as his deputy. "Congratulations to @Dev_Fadnavis Ji and @AjitPawarSpeaks Ji on taking oath as the CM and Deputy CM of Maharashtra respectively. I am confident they will work diligently for the bright future of Maharashtra," tweeted PM Modi.