The newly appointed Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde, and Deputy Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, met on Saturday to discuss cabinet expansion and the formula for allocating cabinet vacancies between the BJP and Shiv Sena, according to sources.This is Shinde’s first visit to the national capital as Maharashtra Chief Minister.
On Friday, Shinde and Fadnavis met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The encounter, which lasted for roughly 40 minutes, was held at Nadda’s home in the nation’s capital.
The BJP offered 11 ministerial positions to the Shinde side during initial negotiations, and it suggested that 29 ministers would be from the BJP, according to the sources.
The Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena is in favour of the Chief Minister continuing to oversee the Home Department. On the other hand, no formal information has yet been provided.
With rumours of the Maharashtra cabinet being expanded in two stages circulating, the meeting is significant given the possibility of the expansion occurring before the presidential election on July 18.
Shinde was sworn in as Chief Minister and Fadnavis as Deputy Chief Minister of the new government on June 30 after Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray resigned in the wake of a party revolt.
Shine led the revolt, which was supported by some independent MLAs. Shinde previously stated that a decision on cabinet expansion would be made soon after discussions.
The Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray has petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn the Maharashtra governor’s June 30 decision to invite Shinde-led MLAs supported by the BJP to form a government in the state.
On July 11, the Supreme Court will hear the case. Thackeray, in reference to the Thackeray faction, has stated that no one can take the party symbol of a bow and arrow.
