For the first time swearing-in will be held at the famous cricket ground. In 1995, when BJP came to power in alliance with Shiv Sena, swearing-in had been held at Shivaji Park.
Apart from the formal ceremony, there will be a musical programme by Ashok Hande's group. Celebrities from various walks of life including Lata Mangeshkar and Amitabh Bachchan have been invited, apart from Chief Ministers of the BJP-ruled states, leaders of opposition in the non-BJP ruled states and all the newly elected MLAs in Maharashtra.
Mumbai BJP general secretary Atul Shah said the theme of the programme was inspired by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's statement in 1980 that he would like to see 'the lotus' (BJP's symbol) bloom on Mumbai seafront.
Shah said the seating capacity of the stadium is about 40 to 45 thousand. "The state protocol department will send out about 2,500 invites while we will send the rest," he added.
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Desai told PTI that the programme will last two hours.
Desai added that he had held discussions with CM-designate Devendra Fadnavis and senior leaders Vinod Tawde and Ashish Shelar, and accordingly vision of the new government will also be highlighted.
Care has been taken to ensure that there is no damage to the cricket ground, Desai asserted.