Maharashtra Cabinet Expansion: In the politics of Maharashtra, the struggle for the expansion of the cabinet was going on for a long time. Meanwhile, CM Eknath Shinde has put the final stamp on the distribution of portfolios of the newly appointed ministers of NCP. Seven ministries have gone to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar. The most important of these is the Finance Department. In addition, the Cooperative Societies, Women and Child Development, Relief and Rehabilitation, Agriculture, Food and Civil Supplies, and Medical Education departments are included.
Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar confirmed that the list of cabinet expansion has been sent to the Governor for his approval. Officials of the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) reached the Governor’s residence Raj Bhavan today to finalize and submit this list. Further action will be taken after the approval of the Governor and it will be sent to the Chief Secretary.
NDA meeting on 18th July
NDA has called a meeting in Delhi on 18th July. Ajit Pawar-led NCP will also participate in this meeting. Although, Doubts still loom over the cabinet expansion, with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde seeking an immediate cabinet expansion, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) says only after the monsoon session of the assembly, which begins on July 17. The cabinet should be expanded. The allocation of the crucial finance portfolio to the NCP is a major victory for Ajit Pawar, who during his meetings with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis pitched for key portfolios for his party men.
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Ajit Pawar and his loyalists had joined hands with the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena coalition on 2 July, but no consensus has yet been reached on the distribution of portfolios. 18 ministers were inducted in the Shinde-Fadnavis government on August 9, 2022, after coming to power in June. However, the maximum number of members in it is 43.
