Maharashtra Cabinet expansion unlikely before monsoon session of Assembly

Newly sworn in Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar returned to Mumbai from Delhi at 3 am on Thursday after holding a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah

Following the meeting with Shah, Pawar held deliberations with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at his official residence Varsha and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis at his official residence Sagar. (File)

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Maharashtra is unlikely to witness the next cabinet expansion before the monsoon session of the state legislature, despite strong demands for the same from Shiv Sena MLAs. The portfolio redistribution after the swearing in of nine ministers of Nationalist Congress Party is likely to be announced in two days.

Newly sworn in Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar returned to Mumbai from Delhi at 3 am on Thursday after holding a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He was joined by NCP’s Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel. Following the meeting with Shah, Pawar held deliberations with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at his official residence Varsha and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis at his official residence Sagar.

Patel on Wednesday had said that the meeting with Shah was not about cabinet portfolios but was only a courtesy visit after the swearing-in ceremony of NCP ministers. Sources within the NCP said that the dispute is not about finance portfolio for Pawar but Shinde’s ministers and MLAs are not ready to part with important portfolios and instead want the BJP to give up its portfolios.

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Sources confirmed that the finance and cooperation are among the top two departments which will be given to the NCP.

“The portfolio redistribution will be announced within the next 48 hours. It has been decided and the disputes have been solved,” said a senior NCP minister.

Meanwhile, sources within all three parties indicated that the cabinet expansion is unlikely to take place before the monsoon session of the state legislature. “The cabinet expansion might be put on hold for few days to avoid further confrontation between the Sena and NCP MLAs,” said a senior leader from the NCP.

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