The Maharashtra cabinet expansion under Devendra Fadnavis is expected to take place on December 11 or 12, according to sources. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Ajit Pawar, is likely to retain the Finance portfolio, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will keep the Home department, consistent with the previous Eknath Shinde-led government.
The Shiv Sena, led by Shinde, is set to retain the Urban Development department and may also receive the Revenue department, if party sources are to be believed.
Maharashtra’s cabinet can have a maximum of 43 ministers, including the Chief Minister. The BJP, as the largest member of the Mahayuti alliance, is expected to secure 21-22 ministerial positions, while Shiv Sena is likely to get 11-12, and NCP around 9-10, sources added.
A senior BJP leader mentioned that the final decision on the number of ministers will be made in the next day or two. Newly-elected MLAs will take the oath during a three-day special assembly session starting Saturday, administered by pro-tem Speaker Kalidas Kolambkar. The Speaker’s election will take place on December 9, followed by a trust vote and the Governor’s address to a joint session of both Houses.
The winter session of the Maharashtra legislature will begin in Nagpur, the state’s second capital, on December 16.