In a latest development, it has come to light that the Ajit Pawar-led faction is likely to get lesser number of berths than that of Shinde faction in the ministerial council of the three-party coalition government called Mahayuti.
A day after joining forces with the Eknath Shinde-led government, Ajit Pawar along with Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal and Sunil Tatkare discussed ministerial berths and portfolio allocations with deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis at his ‘Sagar’ residence in Malabar Hill.
However, the allocation of the portfolios to the newly inducted ministers was delayed due to the differences over the distribution of various departments between BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP.
Earlier, they had sought 14 berths in the government, equal to what they had in the erstwhile Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has in the coalition government. However, the group is expected to get 12 to 13 berths and will have to settle for a lesser number of key departments.
An official stated that the BJP has offered three minister of state positions apart from nine cabinet berths. They have asked for 14 berths comprising 11 cabinets and three junior ministers.
Their demand included departments such as finance, energy, housing, cooperation, women and child development, social justice among others, which was discussed in a meeting of MLAs and senior leaders called by Ajit Pawar at his official residence ‘Devgiri’.
The BJP, the largest partner in alliance with 105 members, is expected to keep 15 to 16 portfolios, while Pawar faction will get a maximum 13 ministerial berths.
Shinde faction, which has got the post of chief minister despite having less seats than the BJP, is likely to get three to four more berths in addition to the 10 ministers it has.
Meanwhile, the Shinde faction has been pushing for another round of cabinet expansion before the allocation of the portfolio to Ajit Pawar faction. A cabinet expansion is most likely to take place on July 10.
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