Maharashtra cabinet expansion likely tomorrow, at least 15 ministers to be inducted

The new Maharashtra government of CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction and the BJP is likely to undertake its first cabinet expansion exercise on Tuesday. The Maharashtra cabinet expansion could happen tomorrow at 11 am at Maharashtra Raj Bhavan, sources were quoted as saying by ANI. 

At least 15 ministers will be inducted in the cabinet expansion with the crucial home ministry portfolio expected to remain with Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, the sources added.

The development comes after the Maharashtra government faced criticism from the Opposition for working essentially as a two-member cabinet comprising the CM and the Dy CM. The Shinde government rose after the collapse of the former CM Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikash Aghadi (MVA) government after the CM took majority of Sena MLAs with him. Now he faces a tough ask of accomodating ministerial aspirations of several of the rebel legislators. 

Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly and NCP leader Ajit Pawar has remarked that CM Shinde had promised a ministerial berth to every MLA who joined him in the Sena rebellion.

"Now Shinde is not able to fulfil his promise, hence the delay in cabinet expansion. The chief minister should also reveal what led to the delay," Pawar said.

Maharashtra Dy CM Fadnavis had hit back at the Opposition criticism. “Ajit Pawar is leader of the opposition. He will have to say such things. Ajit dada conveniently forgets that when he was in the government there were just five ministers for the first 32 days," the BJP leader had said.  

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(With inputs from ANI)