Maharashtra cabinet expansion on Dec 14? Suspense continues over portfolio allocation

The much-awaited cabinet expansion of Maharashtra government will take place on December 14, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar announced in Delhi on Thursday.

The NCP leader, along with his party colleague Praful Patel, is in the national capital to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the cabinet expansion. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is also in Delhi to hold parleys with the BJP leadership.

Fadnavis, however, refused to give an exact date for the cabinet expansion, but said the probable ministers from the BJP have been shortlisted and the final decision will be taken by the central leadership.

"We are yet to decide on a date for the cabinet expansion. The formula has been decided and you will know about it soon," he said.

According to reports in the regional media, the BJP may get 21-22 ministries while the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde may be given 11-12 ministries. The remaining portfolios may go to the NCP. The state cabinet can have a maximum 43 members.

The Mahayuti alliance swept the assembly elections held in November, winning 230 of the 288 seats. The BJP became the single largest party, pocketing 132 seats, while the Shiv Sena and the NCP bagged 58 and 41 seats, respectively.

Fadnavis took oath as the chief minister while Shinde and Ajit Pawar were sworn in as his deputies on December 5, but the suspense continues over the portfolio allocations.

It may be noted that Shinde, who is keen on getting the home portfolio, skipped the Delhi meeting with Amit Shah. The Sena leader was the chief minister in the previous government and is now the deputy CM in the new Mahayuti government.

Shinde is demanding the home ministry as it was held by Fadnavis in the previous government when the BJP leader was the deputy chief minister. However, the BJP is not keen on giving the home ministry to its allies. In fact, the chief minister himself wants to retain the home portfolio.

Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar has been lobbying for the finance ministry which he had held in the previous government. But the BJP has not yet given any commitment.

Ajit Pawar, it is said, is willing to accept less number of ministers for his party if the BJP agrees to give his party a cabinet berth in the central government and the governorship of a state.

- With inputs from Dnyanesh Jathar