The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reportedly has given a free hand to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in connection to the formation of the Maharashtra Cabinet. Fadnavis will be responsible to allot profiles and departments.
The Maharashtra Cabinet expansion for the state government will take place on December 14. According to an NCP member, BJP is expected to get 20 ministerial posts while Shiv Sena and NCP are expected to get 10 portfolios each. The newly appointed Maharashtra CM on Friday said that India has become the fastest-growing economy in the world under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that Maharashtra, too, aspires to be a part of the growth story.
Devendra Fadnavis on probable ministers in his Cabinet
Fadnavis said that the names of the probable ministers from the BJP in his cabinet have been shortlisted and the final decision will be taken by the party's central leadership.
The BJP-led Mahayuti registered a landslide victory in the Maharashtra Assembly polls last month. The BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP coalition won 230 seats while smaller outfits, part of the alliance, emerged victorious on five seats.
The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance was restricted to 46 seats in the 288-member Assembly. Besides Fadnavis, Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar were sworn in as deputy chief ministers in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a galaxy of leaders from the arenas of politics, industry and entertainment.
Fadnavis also brushed aside reports of differences among the ruling alliance over the power-sharing agreement.
Devendra Fadnavis, a third-time Chief Minister for Maharashtra
On December 5, Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra for the third time. Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde were sworn in as Deputy Chief Ministers. The grand swearing-in ceremony saw the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, prominent BJP leaders, Bollywood stars and dignitaries from all walks of life.
(With inputs from PTI)
