Having more or less clinched the power-sharing deal with the Shiv Sena, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis plans to accommodate as many as 12 Sena Ministers — including five Cabinet ranked ones — in his Government in the Cabinet expansion that he is likely to undertake on Friday.
Though the ruling BJP and Sena leaders worked out the contours of a power-sharing deal at a meeting held at his official residence on Monday night, Fadnavis on Tuesday delayed a formal announcement about the understanding pending consultations with his party’s Central leadership.
Another reason that has prompted Fadnavis to postpone his Cabinet expansion till Friday is the demise of Maharashtra’s former Chief Minister AR Antulay.
Given that the Maharashtra Government declared a three-day State mourning over Antulay’s death, Fadnavis will, in all likelihood, go in for his Cabinet expansion on Friday, ahead of the Winter Session of the State Cabinet beginning in Nagpur on December 8.
After arriving at broad power-sharing understanding with the Shiv Sena, Fadnavis flew to New Delhi, met BJP national president Amit Shah and briefed the latter about the details of the negotiations he had with the Sena leaders on Monday night.
Talking to the media after his meeting with Shah, Fadnavis said, “Our talks with the Sena leaders have taken place in a most constructive manner. I have briefed our party president about whatever transpired at the meeting that the leaders of the two parties had in Mumbai last night. Without into details, all I can say is that I am very confident that our talks will fructify. And we will succeed in forming the Government together”.
When prodded further for details, Fadnavis said, “You will get to know the nature of power sharing formula between us soon... One thing I can tell you that both the BJP and Sena have made up our minds to share power in the State”.
Informed sources said that though it had offered four Cabinet ranked Ministries (out of the total 12 Ministries) to the Sena, the BJP had now agreed to give five Cabinet ranked Ministries and seven Ministers of State to the saffron ally.
Having made it clear to the ally it would keep the crucial Home, Revenue and Urban Development Ministries with it, the Sena has asked the Sena to chooses five portfolios from Ministries like Energy, Water Resources (Irrigation), Industries, Public Works Department, Public Health, Environment and MSRDC.
Though happy with the increase in one more Cabinet ranked portfolio, the Sena is insisting that it be given either Revenue or Home portfolio. The BJP, however, does not want to part with either of the key portfolios.