In a latest development in the ongoing Maharashtra political turmoil, BJP has offered Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde the post of Deputy Chief Minister if he switches sides along with his MLAs and joins the party helping them form the next government in the state.
Moreover, if reports are to be believed, a maximum of 12 ministerial berths can be allocated to the Shinde group depending on the number of MLAs he carries with him.
According to sources, a total of 42 Maharashtra MLAs are present with Eknath Shinde at Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati, Assam. This includes 34 MLAs from Shiv Sena and 8 Independent MLAs.
This was the number of berths given to the Shiv Sena when it was in alliance with the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government in Maharashtra.
To post a majority in the 288 member-strong Maharashtra Assembly and topple the incumbent MVA government, the BJP needs 38 MLAs.
Sources from BJP further stated that the portfolios that may be allocated to Shinde’s group include PWD, Urban Development (in the Uddhav Thackeray-led government, Shinde handled these portfolios). Some others who don’t find a berth in the Cabinet may be accommodated on the statutory boards and corporations just to retain them for the remaining term of 29 months.
However, it is pertinent to note that the BJP will strike a deal with the Shinde group only if the numbers add up. This will be similar to the one it had struck with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar in November 2019.
Ajit Pawar was made deputy CM while his team was given 9 ministerial berths. That hurriedly-cobbled deal however did not last even 80 hours, paving the way for the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.
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