Unwilling to concede to Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena demand for the home portfolio in the Maharashtra Cabinet, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has now offered him the choice of the revenue, urban development or public works departments instead.
The BJP has already allocated the finance and planning portfolio to Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar. Senior BJP leaders said, “The BJP has made it clear to its alliance partner Shiv Sena that it cannot give home ministry.”
Along with Shinde and Pawar as deputies, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis took the oath as chief minister on December 5 at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The cabinet expansion will take place prior to the Winter Session in Nagpur, which begins on December 16,” Fadnavis told the reporters.
According to BJP officials, cabinet expansion will take place at any time following the end of the three-day special session that runs from December 7 to 9.
Since Shinde had to resign from his position as chief minister, the Shiv Sena is pressuring him to take over the home ministry. Shinde should be given the home ministry, according to a number of Sena heavyweights, including Bharat Googawle, Sanjay Shirsat and Gulabrao Patil.
The BJP, the only party with 132 seats out of 288 seats, has, however, affirmed its claim to the position of chief minister and home ministry.
“We have a BJP-led government at the Centre,” Fadnavis stated in an interview with media outlets on Friday. “The BJP, led by Amit Shah, controls the Union home ministry in Delhi. Therefore, keeping the home ministry with the same group facilitates cooperation.”
“In his first term (as CM), Fadnavis also held the home portfolio and introduced some bold reforms. His government’s initiative helped to bring the diverse and highly competitive police force together,” a BJP insider stated.
Regarding representations and other significant portfolios, the BJP has pledged to address the concerns of alliance partners. In addition, the BJP has stated that, according to its figures, it will have the most ministers.
According to sources, the NCP will have nine to 11 ministers, the Shiv Sena will have 12 to 14 and the BJP will have 18 to 20. With 30 to 35 ministers, the Mahayuti coalition is anticipated to have a larger cabinet. The chief minister is included in the maximum authorised number of members of the Maharashtra cabinet, which is 43.
A senior BJP official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “The three-party coalition has been in power for 2.5 years. Apart from the shift in Chief Minister from Shinde to Fadnavis, most changes will be minimal. The cabinet’s composition is expected to remain largely unchanged, with each party retaining most of its existing portfolios.” However, he added that there could be some discussions over a few departments.
In addition, the BJP wants to keep its ministries in higher and technical education, housing, rural development, tribal welfare, energy, water resources and OBC welfare.
The BJP also controlled the public works and revenue ministries in the previous administration. The BJP will regain control of the revenue and public works department if the Shiv Sena is allowed to continue with urban development.
However, like it did under the previous government, Shiv Sena would be given preference in areas such as industries, school education, health, water supply and sanitation, public works (public undertaking), minority development, Waqf board development and Marathi language.
Also Read: Scammers Pose as GPSC Chairman on Telegram to Carry Out Ponzi Scheme
