Maharashtra cabinet expansion: 20:10:10 ratio expected, portfolios likely to be rotated | Mumbai News

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is expected to expand his cabinet on December 14th.

MUMBAI: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is in Delhi now, is likely to expand his cabinet on Dec 14. Fadnavis was in the capital to call on President Droupadi Murmu, vice-president Jagdeep Dhankar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda. “This is apolitical, courtesy calls. After his election as CM, Fadnavis had not met them,” a senior official from his office said. Asked about Ajit Pawar‘s Delhi visit, the official said he wasn’t aware of his schedule.
State BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule declined to comment on cabinet expansion. “It is the prerogative of the CM,” he said. Sena and NCP leaders were also non-committal on distribution of cabinet berths and allocation of portfolios. However, an NCP functionary said it would be difficult for BJP to meet Shinde’s demand for home, revenue and urban development. “Fadnavis will not give up BJP’s claim on these departments,” he said. BJP’s Praveen Darekar said his party’s leadership will take a decision on portfolios.
On the number of berths for the various constituents of the Mahayuti alliance, the NCP leader said it is likely that BJP will secure 20 berths while Shiv Sena and NCP will secure 10 each.
The NCP leader added that in view of the massive strength of Mahayuti legislators, it is likely that cabinet stints may be for two and half years depending on perfomance of ministers so that more legislators can be accommodated.
The Sena may replace some of the ministers from the earlier cabinet as there were complaints about their performance and inaccessibility. The party is likely to induct fresh faces in their place.