Defence Minister Rajnath Singh meets Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, on Wednesday. State BJP Chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule also present.
| Photo Credit: ANI
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar reached New Delhi on Wednesday amid discussions regarding Cabinet expansion. Mr. Pawar held a meeting with fellow Nationalist Congress Party leaders Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel in the national capital. Though there was no official word about the reason behind his visit, sources in his party said he was likely to meet top BJP leader and Union Minister Amit Shah. “Nothing has been decided yet,” Mr. Tatkare told Today News 24.
“It is a courtesy visit where Devendra Fadnavis met Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, J.P. Nadda, President Droupadi Murmu, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar. He will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah,” official sources told Today News 24.
The two leaders are likely to stay in New Delhi on Thursday if the meeting is not held late night on Wednesday, the sources said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, is learnt to be insistent on the Revenue portfolio, apart from the key Urban Development department, which is likely to be allocated to him, top sources said.
The expansion of the State Cabinet is likely to take place on December 14, sources said, even as the formula for portfolio has not been declared.
Shiv Sena sources indicated that they might get 11 to 12 ministerial berths in the Maharashtra Cabinet. “We have already indicated our demands and our stated position is that we will accept the decision taken by the BJP leadership. So, there is no question of going to Delhi,” sources said.
Half term for Sena Ministers?
In view of the growing aspirations from within the Shiv Sena, Mr. Shinde is mulling over giving half a term to each Minister, and evaluating their performance for the same. “This is one thought. The decision on it has not yet been taken. But the idea is to assess the legislators on the basis of their performance, and allow others to get the opportunity to handle the ministerial responsibility,” a leader of the Shiv Sena told Today News 24. This means that the Sena Ministers will likely be rotated after 2.5 years.
The first session of Maharashtra legislative assembly will be held in Nagpur from December 16. Currently, the Maharashtra government consists of only the Chief Minister and two Deputy Chief Ministers. After a massive mandate in favour of the Mahayuti bloc, the three alliance partners have not yet been able to take a decision on Cabinet expansion.
Published – December 12, 2024 02:40 am IST
