Unwilling to bow to the Shiv Sena’s demand for Eknath Shinde’s home ministry in the Maharashtra cabinet, the BJP has given him the option to choose from the revenue, urban development and public works portfolios. The BJP has already promised deputy chief minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar the Finance and Planning portfolio.
A top BJP source said, “BJP has made it clear that it cannot give the home ministry to its alliance partner Shiv Sena.”
On December 5, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as chief minister along with Shinde and Pawar at Azad Maidan in Mumbai in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “The cabinet expansion will take place before the winter session that begins in Nagpur on December 16,” Fadnavis told the media. BJP insiders hinted that the cabinet expansion could happen anytime after the conclusion of the three-day special session from December 7 to 9.
Shiv Sena is under pressure to give Shinde the Home Ministry if he has to resign from the post of Chief Minister. Several army leaders, including Gulabrao Patil, Sanjay Shirasat and Bharat Gugavale, have advocated that Shinde be given the Home Ministry.
However, the largest party, the BJP, which won 132 of the 288 seats, asserted its hold on the home ministry and chief ministerial post.
Speaking to TV channels on Friday, Fadnavis said, “We have a BJP-led government at the Centre. In Delhi, the Union Home Ministry is in the hands of the BJP (Amit Shah). So having the Home Ministry with one party will help in smooth coordination.”
A BJP insider said, “Fadnavis also held the home ministry in his first term (as chief minister) and introduced some bold reforms. His government’s initiatives helped unify a police force riddled with factionalism and bitter rivalry.”
The BJP has promised to accommodate alliance partners’ concerns in representation and other important portfolios. At the same time, the BJP has indicated that it will have the highest number of ministers.
According to sources, BJP will have 18 to 20 ministers, Shiv Sena 12 to 14 ministers and NCP 9 to 11 ministers. The Mahayuti alliance is expected to form a large cabinet with 30 to 35 ministers. The maximum sanctioned strength of the Maharashtra Cabinet is 43, including the Chief Minister.
A senior BJP official, who requested anonymity, said, “A three-party alliance has been ruling the state for 2.5 years. Apart from the change of chief minister from Shinde to Fadnavis, most of the other adjustments will be minor. The composition of the cabinet is likely to remain the same, with each party largely holding its own. He said that the existing departments will be maintained.
Apart from home, the BJP aims to retain the energy, water resources, tribal welfare, housing, rural development, OBC welfare, and higher and technical education portfolios.
In the previous government too, the BJP took over the revenue and public works departments. If the Shiv Sena retains urban development, the revenue/public works department will revert to the BJP.
However, Shiv Sena will get priority in industries, school education, health, water supply and sanitation, public works (public undertakings), minority development and Waqf Board development, Marathi language, which was in the previous regime.
CPN has indicated that it is comfortable with maintaining the status quo. Additionally, it is looking for a housing portfolio. The main ministries held by the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) include finance, cooperation, agriculture, health and higher education, as well as food and drug administration, women and children welfare.