News Brief
BJP, NCP And Shiv Sena Eye Key Positions As Maharashtra Cabinet Expansion Likely To Take Place Next Week
Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar
The cabinet expansion in Maharashtra is expected to take place on 11 or 12 December, news agency PTI reported citing sources.
The Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is likely to retain the Finance portfolio while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will keep control of the Home department, the sources added.
Former CM Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena is likely to retain the Urban Development portfolio and could additionally secure the Revenue department.
The Maharashtra cabinet can have a maximum of 43 ministers, including the Chief Minister.
The BJP, which is the largest party in the ruling Mahayuti alliance, is likely to secure 21-22 ministerial posts, while the Shiv Sena is likely to get 11-12 berths. The NCP is expected to get 9-10 positions in the cabinet.
A three-day special session beginning Saturday (7 November) will witness newly-elected MLAs taking their oaths under the supervision of pro-tem Speaker Kalidas Kolambkar.
The Speaker's election is scheduled for 9 December, followed by a trust vote for the newly-formed government and the Governor’s address to both Houses.
The winter session of the Maharashtra legislature will begin in Nagpur, the state’s second capital, on 16 December.
