NEW DELHI/MUMBAI : After meeting the top leadership of BJP in Delhi, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said the formula for portfolio allocations among MahaYuti allies has been finalised and cabinet expansion will take place soon.
He said that the names of the probable ministers from the BJP in his cabinet have been shortlisted and the final decision will be taken by the party’s central leadership.
Fadnavis dismissed rumours about disagreement within the ruling coalition regarding the power-sharing arrangement. “There is no issue with cabinet expansion. I came here to meet my party leaders and discuss who could be the ministers from BJP. Eknath Shinde will decide on ministers from his party, and Ajit Dada will take a call on his ministers,” he said.
“We are yet to decide on a date for cabinet expansion. The formula has been decided and you will know about it soon,” Fadnavis said.
NCP chief Ajit Pawar, who also came to Delhi to meet BJP top leaders, said the cabinet expansion could take place on December 14 ahead of the assembly session that will begin on December 16 in Nagpur.
Fadnavis met President Droupadi Murmu, PM Narendra Modi, Union ministers Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari and Rajnath Singh, BJP president JP Nadda and general secretary BL Santosh to discuss cabinet expansions.
“We held discussions and probable ministers from each region have been shortlisted. Top leaders will finalise the list. Once we get the green signal, portfolio allocations and cabinet expansion will take place,” he said.
Pawar reportedly met Shah in Delhi to discuss the formula on portfolio allocations among the alliance partners.
In MahaYuti, out of total 43 ministerial berths, BJP wants to keep 23, conceding 11 to Shinde-led Shiv Sena and 10 to NCP. “Pawar wants the finance ministry along with nine other portfolios to keep his flock happy. However, BJP is reluctant to concede finance to Ajit, and home and urban development ministries to Deputy CM EKnath Shinde,” a leader said, wishing anonymity.
Ajit attends uncle Sharad’s b’day party, sparks buzz
Deputy CM Ajit Pawar on Thursday attended uncle Sharad Pawar’s 85th birthday celebrations in Delhi, sparking speculations in both NCP camps. Sharad’s grand-nephew Yugendra Pawar said the meeting should not be read politically. “It was a family gathering,” he said.