Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis will undertake first-ever expansion of his new Cabinet during the weekend, ahead of the brief three-day winter session beginning in Nagpur on December 16.
Ahead of the State Cabinet expansion, Fadnavis met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Rajnath Singh and National BJP president JP Nadda in New Delhi.
During his two-day visit to the national capital, Fadnavis made courtesy calls to President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, He also met Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol and BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde at Maharashtra Sadan.
During his meeting with Shah, Fadnavis is understood have discussed matters relating to the impending State Cabinet expansion. ”It was an absolute pleasure to meet and interact with Hon Union and Cooperation Minister Amitbhai Shah at his residence in New Delhi. Also presented him a 'murti' of SwatantryaVeer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar,” Fadnavis wrote on “X”.
After his meeting with the Prime Minister, Fadnavis remarked on “X”: “Extremely thankful to Hon PM Narendra Modi ji for your valuable time, guidance, blessings and standing firm behind Maharashtra. In the last 10 years, with your support Maharashtra is Number 1 in almost every sector and now aims to take this journey of VIKAS to the next level under your leadership and guidance. You have always been an inspiration to crores of BJP Karyakarta like us to work even harder”.
Talking separately to the media, Fadnavis said: “I had a good meeting with the Prime Minister and issues related to Maharashtra were discussed. He extended full support to the state government”.
During the meeting with Shah, Fadnavis is understood to have discussed various issues relating to Maharashtra, including the impending State Cabinet expansion and portfolio allocations.
Interacting with the media, Fadnavis said: “Our list of ministers would be finalised by the BJP high-command. On the other hand, Shinde Saheb would take a call on Shiv Sena members to be inducted in the ministry. Ajit Dada Pawar will decide on who will be there from his party in the State Cabinet”.
Interestingly enough, Fadnavis and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar are in New Delhi. However, deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde has chosen not to accompany Fadnavis to the national capital.
Sources close to Shinde attributed Shinde’s decision to accompany Fadnavis to New Delhi is that he is not happy with the portfolio allocations proposed by Fadnavis. For, the ruling BJP is not willing to give important portfolios like Home, Urban Development and Revenue to the Shiv Sena (Shinde), a thing that has not gone well with Shinde who was demanding one or two of the three major portfolios.
Asked if Shinde had chosen not to accompany him to the national capital because he was upset with the portfolio allocations proposed by the BJP, Fadnavis said: “My purpose of visit is different…Ajit Dada’s purpose and engagements are different…Shinde Saheb has some work in Mumbai.”
On his part, Ajit Pawar said that he along with his wife and Rajya Sabha member Sunetra Pawar, NCP Working President Praful Patel and state party president Sunil Tatkare met NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar and his wife Pratibha Pawar.
“Today is (Pawar) Saheb’s birthday… Tomorrow is Kaki’s ( Pratibha Patil’s) birthday…we all wished them….some relations are beyond politics…(late Congress stalwart and first Chief Minister) Yashwantrao Chavan has taught us how to do cultured politics and we try to follow him,” said Pawar.
Queried if politics was discussed, Ajit Pawar said: “Pawar Saheb discussed issues related to Maharashtra…, right from Parbhani violence to Parliament disruption, state cabinet expansion among others."
Meanwhile, Fadnavis, Shinde and Ajit Pawar have reported arrived at a consensus on the size and division of the State Cabinet.
Since the Maharashtra Assembly comprises 288 members, there will be a maximum of 43 ministers in the State Cabinet -- a number that accounts for 15 percent of total members in the lower House of the State Legislature.
In the normal course, the BJP will get 21 ministerial berths in the 43-member Cabinet, while the Shinde Shiv Sena is entitled for 12 ministries and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP will have to be satisfied with 10 berths.
