Maharashtra Cabinet: BJP says no compromise on home ministry, gives Eknath Shinde option to pick from revenue, urban development, PWD

On December 5, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis took the oath as chief minister along with Shinde and Pawar as deputies at Azad Maidan in Mumbai in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Fadnavis told the media, “The cabinet expansion will take place before the Winter Session in Nagpur commencing on December 16.” BJP insiders indicated that cabinet expansion will occur anytime after the conclusion of the three-day special session from December 7 to 9.

There is pressure from the Shiv Sena to give Shinde the home portfolio as he has had to step down from the post of chief minister. Several Sena leaders, including Gulabrao Patil, Sanjay Shirsat, and Bharat Googawle, have advocated that Shinde should get the home ministry.

However, the BJP, the single largest party winning 132 seats out of 288, has asserted its right to the home ministry and the chief minister post.

Speaking to TV channels on Friday, Fadnavis said, “We have a BJP-led government at the Centre. The Union home ministry is held by the BJP (Amit Shah) in Delhi. So, retaining the home ministry with the same party helps in easy coordination.”

A BJP insider said, “Fadnavis, in his first term (as CM), also held the home portfolio and ushered some bold reforms. The initiative taken by his government helped to unify the police force, which was ridden with factions and bitter rivalry.”

The BJP has promised to accommodate the concerns of alliance partners both in terms of representations and other important portfolios. At the same time, the BJP has also indicated it will have the highest number of ministers based on its numbers.

Sources indicate that the BJP will have 18 to 20 ministers, Shiv Sena will have 12 to 14 ministers, and the NCP will have 9 to 11 ministers. The Mahayuti coalition is expected to have a larger cabinet, with 30 to 35 ministers. The maximum sanctioned strength of the Maharashtra cabinet is 43, which includes the chief minister.

A senior BJP official, who requested to remain anonymous, stated, “The coalition of three parties has been governing the state for 2.5 years. Aside from the change of Chief Minister from Shinde to Fadnavis, most other adjustments will be minor. The cabinet composition will likely remain the same, with each party largely retaining its existing portfolios.” However, he also noted that there might be some negotiations regarding a few departments.

Apart from home, the BJP aims to retain energy, water resources, tribal welfare, housing, rural development, OBC welfare, and higher and technical education portfolios.

In the previous government, the BJP also held for the revenue and public works departments. If Shiv Sena retains urban development, the revenue/ public works department will return to the BJP.

However, Shiv Sena will get priority on industries, school education, health, water supply and sanitation, public works (public undertaking), minorities development and Waqf board development, Marathi language, which it held in the previous regime.

The NCP has indicated that it is comfortable with maintaining the status quo. Additionally, it is seeking the housing portfolio. Key ministries that the NCP aims to retain include finance, cooperation, agriculture, health and higher education, as well as food and drug administration, and women and child welfare.