Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid suspense over state Cabinet expansion which is likely to take place by December 14. According to Fadnavis' office, this was a courtesy visit.
According to reports, Shiv Sena would not get the home department and was also unlikely to be allocated the revenue portfolio. Talks are getting delayed because three parties (Mahayuti allies BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP) are involved.
The BJP is expected to keep 21 to 22 ministerial berths, including the CM's post, the leader said, adding that four to five ministerial berths may be kept vacant. Shiv Sena leader and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde was not travelling to the national capital, as per his office. On December 5, Fadnavis took oath as CM along with Shinde and NCP leader Ajit Pawar as his deputies, after the Mahayuti alliance won 230 of the 288 seats in the state assembly polls. The Maharashtra cabinet can have a maximum of 43 ministers, including the chief minister.
The talks on portfolio allocation among the ruling Mahayuti allies - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), National Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena entered the final round. However, Shiv Sena is reportedly hellbent on key ministries, including Home.
According to the sources, the BJP wants to keep the Home as well as Urban Development with itself. They said only two to three ministries of BJP's share can be given to allies. The sources claimed the saffron party agreed to give only the Revenue, Housing and PWD to Shiv Sena and NCP. All key ministries like Home, Urban Development, Revenue (one of the two), Law and Judiciary, General Administration, Rural Development-Electricity Energy, Public Works, Environment, Forest, Tribal may remain with BJP. The Shiv Sena is likely to have the ministries of Revenue-Urban Development (one of the two), Public Works (PWD), Labor, School Education, State Excise, Water Supply and Sanitation and Transport.
