MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Friday criticised the MahaYuti for failing to expand the cabinet over a week after CM Devendra Fadnavis took the oath with DCMs Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde. With no full-fledged cabinet and even portfolio allocation not done among the DCMs, all portfolios are with CM Fadnavis, and so far, both Shinde and Pawar have no departments with them. The state assembly poll results were declared on November 23, and officials said that the govt has been at a virtual standstill since portfolios have not been allocated even to DCMs, and the cabinet hasn’t been expanded. Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray termed the delay a ‘disgrace’.
“First, after the absolute clear mandate given by the Election Commission, they took more than 10 days to decide on a CM and form govt. Now they’re taking time to even figure out who gets how many ministers. Then we’ll see a fight over portfolios. The greed for power in the BJP-led politicians doesn’t stop at anything. Serving the people can wait, first the hunger for power of these treacherous politicians. What a disgrace,” Aaditya said in a post on X.
Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut also criticised the MahaYuti over the delay in cabinet expansion. “Some people may get a heart attack during the cabinet expansion. Ambulances should be kept ready. No one asks Eknath Shinde now. The issue of his displeasure or happiness is over for Delhi. Eknath Shinde, Ajit Pawar, and the MLAs with them are like puppets and have become slaves. Slaves can’t speak the language of rebellion, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar has said, slaves have to sacrifice for their rights. But this courage is not among them,” Raut said.
DCM Ajit Pawar on Thursday announced that the cabinet expansion of the Maharashtra govt will take place on Saturday. “Cabinet expansion in Maharashtra will take place on December 14,” said Pawar while talking to reporters after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Regarding the allocation of ministerial positions to the BJP, CM Fadnavis told reporters, “In our party, decisions are taken by the parliamentary board and our senior leadership. As far as making ministers from the BJP quota is concerned, we will decide on it. Similarly, the NCP and Shiv Sena will decide the names of their ministers at their level. The formula for cabinet expansion is already decided. You will get to know about it soon.”
