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Maharashtra Cabinet Expansion: The cabinet expansion of the new state government will take place today, over a week after the Chief Minister and Deputy CMs were sworn in.
Maharashtra Cabinet Expansion: CM Devendra Fadnavis (PTI Image)
Maharashtra Cabinet Expansion: The Cabinet expansion of the new BJP-led Maharashtra government is all set to take place in Nagpur on Sunday, with several new faces expected to be inducted into the council of ministers.
According to sources, around 20 to 22 MLAs from the BJP are likely to take oath as ministers today while Shiv Sena will have 10 to 12 of its MLAs sworn in into the Cabinet. Around 10 leaders from Ajit Pawar’s NCP are also expected to take oath today.
Opportunity To New Faces Likely
The senior leaders of the Mahayuti alliance are expected to give several new faces the opportunity.
“The Mahayuti may drop underperforming ministers, which could include 4 leaders from the Shinde camp, 3 from the BJP, and 2 from the Ajit Pawar faction who were previously ministers but may not retain their positions,” sources said.
Sources earlier said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP president JP Nadda held a brief discussion on the cabinet expansion in Maharashtra.
The expansion will take place a day before the commencement of the Winter Session of the Assembly on December 16.
Earlier this week, Fadnavis had met the BJP’s top leadership in the national capital to discuss the Cabinet expansion.
Home Ministry May Go To BJP
Sources had said that the BJP is likely to keep the Home Ministry which was a point of deadlock with Shiv Sena. The Shinde Sena was keen on keeping the Home Department, considering Eknath Shinde was demoted from Chief Minister in the previous government to Deputy CM in the new government.
Sources suggest that the Public Works Department (PWD) and Urban Development (UD) portfolios may be assigned to the Shinde faction. Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar is expected to retain the Finance portfolio.
Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as Chief Minister on December 5, with Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar assuming office as his deputies. In the November 20 Assembly elections, the Mahayuti alliance secured a resounding victory, winning 230 out of 288 seats in the state. The BJP led the charge with 132 seats, followed by Shinde’s Shiv Sena with 57 seats, and Pawar’s NCP with 41.
