Uddhav Thackeray will be 18th CM of Maharashtra

SHIV Sena president Uddhav Thackeray will take oath as the 18th Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Thursday.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar -- seen as architect of the new alliance -- himself has been Chief Minister of Maharashtra four times.

He became CM for the first time on July 18, 1978, when he toppled the Congress Government to form new Government under the Progressive Democratic Front alliance. This Government lasted till February 17, 1980, when then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi dissolved it.

Pawar was again CM from June 25, 1988, to March 3, 1990 after he returned to the Congress. His third tenure lasted from March 4, 1990, to June 25, 1991. He was sent back to the State after Mumbai riots, and was CM from March 6, 1993, to March 13, 1995.

Late Vasantdada Patil of the Congress was Chief Minister four times -- From April 19, 1977, to March 6, 1978; March 7 to July 17, 1978 (when Pawar toppled his Government; February 2, 1983, to March 9, 1985, and again from March 10 1985, to June 1, 1985.

The first Chief Minister of Maharashtra after its formation in 1960 was Yashwantrao Chavan. He held the post from May 1, 1960, to November 20, 1962. Marotrao Kannamwar was the second Chief Minister, from November 21, 1962, till his death on November 24, 1963. P B Sawant was acting Chief Minister from November 25 to December 4, 1963. Vasantrao Naik held the post from December 5, 1963, to February 20, 1975. No other Chief Minister enjoyed such a continuous tenure of 11 years.

Shankarrao Chavan was Chief Minister from February 21, 1975, to April 16, 1977. He became CM again on March 14, 1986 and remained in the post till June 24, 1988. A R Antulay was Chief Minister from June 9, 1980, to January 12, 1982. Antulay, the only Muslim CM of the State so far, had to step down over corruption charges. Babasaheb Bhosale was Chief Minister from January 20, 1982, to February 1, 1983. Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar was Chief Minister from June 3, 1985, to March 7, 1986.

Sudhakarrao Naik was Chief Minister from June 25, 1991, to February 23, 1993. Manohar Joshi was Chief Minister from March 14, 1995, to January 30, 1999. Narayan Rane became Chief Minister on February 1, 1999and was in the post till October 17, 1999, when the Sena-BJP Government decided to advance Assembly elections.

Vilasrao Deshmukh took over as CM leading a Congress- NCP alliance Government on October 18, 1999 and continued till January 18, 2003. He returned as Chief Minister on November 1, 2004, but resigned on December 7, 2008, after the 26/11 terror attacks. Sushilkumar Shinde was Chief Minister from January 18, 2003, to October 31, 2004.

Ashok Chavan took over from Deshmukh on December 8, 2008. His first term lasted till November 6, 2009. He continued as Chief Minister after Assembly polls, but resigned in November 2010 over Adarsh Housing Society scam.

Devendra Fadnavis was on the post from October 31, 2014, to November 9, 2019. And later in his second term from November 23, 2019 to November 26.