Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday, July 11, held a meeting at his residence with Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar to resolve the ongoing issue of cabinet expansion.
This is the third such meeting held since team Ajit Pawar joined the government. In the previous two meetings, they didn’t reach a conclusion. Departments for Finance, Energy, Water Resources, Co-operative, Public Works, and Housing are demanded by the Ajit faction. Giving significant ministries to Ajit Pawar's side, however, worries Shiv Sena and BJP MLAs that it may fuel anger.
CM Shinde is firm on announcing portfolio allocation only after the cabinet expansion of the vacant berths is completed. Ajit Pawar is now demanding portfolio allocation for his party leaders on a priority basis.
Out of 42, only 14 ministerial berths are lying vacant. Team Ajit Pawar is likely to get four berths and the remaining 10 will be equally distributed among Shiv Sena and BJP. Ajit Pawar insisted on being appointed as the guardian minister for the districts of Satara, Sangli, Pune, and Raigad. Ajit Pawar underlined in a late meeting that senior leaders Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Valse Patil, and Hasan Mushrif should have significant portfolios based on their experience and seniority.
Many joined the Shinde faction and went against the Uddhav Thackray-led government because they were promised to get a berth in the cabinet, and they are waiting for over a year now to get a seat. Several legislators opined that in 2014, 2019, or 2022 ministers like Uday Samant, Dada Bhuse, Sanjay Rathod, Shambhuraj Desai, Abdul Sattar, and Deepak Kesarkar were given responsibility as cabinet ministers or state ministers. This time the responsibilities should be given to new faces. Some also emphasised focusing on the caste system too while portfolios are being appointed to new leaders.
There are also some turbulences within the BJP. Even though there is less dissent within the party than there is in the Shiv Sena, many politicians are anxious to find out whether they will be appointed to the government this time around. BJP MLAs Sanjay Kute, Madhuri Misal, Ashish Shelar, and Nitesh Rane are among the names of likely candidates who may receive cabinet vacancies or duties as ministers of state in a cabinet enlargement, according to certain leaders.
However, the BJP is trying to push the cabinet expansion after the Monsoon Session of Parliament. This is due to the fact that several disgruntled MLAs from the BJP and Shiv Sena have been seeking ministerial positions ever since the NCP was appointed to the state government.
Amid all of this allocation chaos, the big question here is who among his deputies - Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis - will CM Eknath Shinde hand over the charge of the Finance Ministry?
In Maharashtra’s government, the Finance Ministry has great significance, as it is India’s richest state. Eknath Shinde finds himself in a crucial situation where his choice would not only affect his future but will also have broad repercussions on Maharashtra politics as the power dynamics play out.
Reacting on the Cabinet Expansion issue, Former Cabinet Minister, and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, Aditya Thackeray took a swipe at the ruling party.
Fadnavis Or Pawar?
The Finance Ministry takes all the calls for inducing economic policies, budget allocations, and crucial financial decisions. The ministry is the spinal cord of all the fiscal and development strategies. Both Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar are eager to use their positions of power to take charge of this crucial division.
Team Ajit Pawar states that he has expertise and vision which is good enough for this role. His expertise and vision make him the ideal candidate for the Finance Ministry. He is capable enough to drive Maharashtra towards economic prosperity.
The most well-known representative of the BJP in Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, brings a unique mix of qualifications to the table. His backers claim that he is a strong candidate for the position due to his practical outlook and acquaintance with the Finance Ministry's nuances.
Last year, when Shinde Faction revolted against the Uddhav Thackeray-led government they strongly objected to Ajit Pawar's handling of the finance portfolio. They accused Ajit Pawar of bias in fund distribution, favoring NCP party leaders in Shiv Sena's constituency, and attempting to weaken Shiv Sena by withholding sufficient funds. Devendra Fadnavis too pointed out that NCP ministers received the lion's share of funds.
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