Maharashtra: Shiv Sena, NCP may get 15 ministers each; Congress 13

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray is all set to take oath as the 18th chief minister of Maharashtra on Thursday. He will lead the coalition government of Maha Vikas Aghadi—an alliance of the Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress—which was formed after a month-long political uncertainty in the state.

Quoting sources, the PTI reported that both the Sena and the NCP are likely to get 15 ministerial berths each, while the Congress is likely to get 13 ministerial berths.

Uddhav is likely to hold the CM post for full five years. 

Meanwhile, after a meeting of the three parties in Mumbai on Wednesday, NCP leader Praful Patel confirmed that his party will get the deputy chief minister's post while the Congress would get the speaker's post.

He also said that along with Thackeray, one or two members of each of the three parties will also take oath as ministers on Thursday.

Maharashtra can have a maximum of 43 ministers, since the size of the council of  ministers can not exceed 15 per cent of the total number of MLAs, which is 288.

Elaborate security arrangements are being made at and around the Shivaji Park in Dadar in central Mumbai for the swearing-in which will take place at 6.40 pm.

Shivsainiks are emotionally connected to the Shivaji Park where party founder late Bal Thackeray used to address Dussehra rallies, a tradition that is still kept alive by his son, Uddhav.

Uddhav is the first Thackeray from his clan to take oath as a public representative and that too as the CM.

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal, DMK president M.K. Stalin are among the prominent leaders invited to the swearing-in.

Unconfirmed reports said both Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party leader Rahul Gandhi may skip the function, though they have been invited by Thackeray.

The three-party alliance claims to have the support of 162 MLAs.

With inputs from PTI