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Amid opposition attacks, Maharashtra cabinet expansion expected today| Top 10
Maharashtra cabinet formation: More than a month after the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis government was formed, opposition has been attacking the duo over the delay.
The Uddhav Thackeray-led government collapsed in Maharashtra within days of unfolding of Eknath Shinde’s revolt. However, 40 days later, the state cabinet has just two members - chief minister Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis. This brought the ruling government under attack from rivals on multiple instances. On Tuesday, the new government is finally expected to induct new members in the council of ministers.
Here’s a lowdown on the latest in Maharashtra:
1. Chief minister Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis have visited Delhi multiple times over the past few weeks for discussion over the state’s new cabinet. The distribution of portfolios among BJP leaders and those who had rebelled against Uddhav was understood to be one of the key aspects of the talks.
2. A party meeting - held at the residence of Devendra Fadnavis - stretched late into the night on Monday ahead of the highly-awaited cabinet formation. BJP leaders were seen leaving Fadnavis’s residence in visuals tweeted by ANI. Earlier in the day, Shinde and Fadnavis had met.
3. In Nanded, amid the buzz, Shinde told reporters: “You will get to know about it tomorrow”. He had earlier played down the opposition attacks over the delay in the induction of ministers.
4. Rebels who supported Shinde in his revolt are likely to be rewarded. Names of former ministers Uday Samant, Sandipan Bhumre, Dada Bhuse, Gulabrao Patil, and Shambhuraj Desai are said to be doing rounds, news agency PTI reported.
5. Chandrakant Patil, Sudhir Mungantiwar, Girish Mahajan, Pravin Darekar and Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil are among the BJP leaders expected to take oath.
6. There are over 40 berths in the state cabinet. However, not all the berths are expected to be filled in the first go.
7. The BJP has 107 members in the state assembly while the Shinde camp has a strength of 50 members. Hence, the majority of portfolios are likely to go to the BJP.
8. Devendra Fadnavis - who has served as the state’s chief minister before - is expected to keep the home ministry.
9. With no ministers in the cabinet, secretaries were quasi-judicial powers.
10. This allowed them to conduct hearings, review decisions of the administration, and pass interim orders as a quasi-judicial authority, HT had earlier reported.
(With inputs from PTI, ANI)
