Eknath Shinde holds MLAs' meet ahead of highly anticipated cabinet expansion

Maharashtra cabinet expansion: The cabinet expansion is set to take place at 11 am at Raj Bhawan.

Published on: Aug 9, 2022, 10:25:38 IST

By HT News Desk | Edited by Swati Bhasin

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Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde held a meeting with leaders of his party ahead of the highly anticipated cabinet expansion. The meeting among the MLAs - whose exit from Team Uddhav Thackeray led to the collapse of the NCP-Shiv Sena-Congress government took place hours after a similar huddle took place at the residence of deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.

(File) Chief minister Eknath Shinde Rahul Raut/HT Photo

The opposition has been attacking the Shinde-Fadnavis government over the delay in the cabinet expansion. It's the 40th day of the new government but the cabinet has just two members - Shinde and Fadnavis.

The cabinet expansion is expected to finally take place at 11 am at Raj Bhawan after multiple Delhi visits by the two leaders to hold discussions with the BJP high command. Fadnavis is expected to keep the crucial home and finance portfolios.

Uday Samant, Sandipan Bhumre, Dada Bhuse, Gulabrao Patil, and Shambhuraj Desai among other rebels of the Shiv Sen are likely to be rewarded on Tuesday.

From the BJP leaders, Chandrakant Patil, Sudhir Mungantiwar, Girish Mahajan, Pravin Darekar and Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil are expected to take oath.

In the ruling coalition, Team Shinde has about 50 MLA s while the BJP has 107 MLAs in the state assembly. As the expansion takes place, the BJP is likely to get more portfolios - the state has a total of 43 berths.

Tuesday's oaths would only be the first phase of the expansion exercise, it is being speculated. More posts will be filled later.

(With inputs from ANI)

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