Maharashtra Cabinet Expansion Today: Who is Getting What ?

The much-anticipated Maharashtra cabinet expansion under the BJP-led Mahayuti government is scheduled to take place in Nagpur today, ahead of the Winter Assembly Session starting December 16. This reshuffle aims to introduce fresh faces while replacing underperforming ministers across party factions.

New Inductions and Changes
Sources indicate that 20-22 BJP MLAs will take the oath as ministers, while Shiv Sena is set to include 10-12 members. Leaders from Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction are expected to secure approximately 10 positions in the expanded cabinet. Prominent BJP leaders rumored to join the council include Nitesh Rane, Pankaja Munde, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, and Chandrakant Patil.

Opportunity for New Leaders
Reports suggest that the Mahayuti leadership plans to give opportunities to fresh talent, dropping some underperforming ministers. Speculations point toward the exclusion of four from the Shinde camp, three BJP leaders, and two from Ajit Pawar’s group.

Portfolio Distribution
The BJP is likely to retain key ministries, including the Home Ministry, which was a contentious point during negotiations. The Shinde faction may manage Public Works (PWD) and Urban Development (UD) portfolios, while Ajit Pawar is expected to continue handling the Finance department.

Strategic Discussions
Maharashtra cabinet expansion follows high-level discussions involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP President JP Nadda. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also been in regular communication with BJP’s central leadership to finalize the expansion plan.

Background
The Mahayuti alliance won a decisive mandate in the November elections, securing 230 of the 288 Assembly seats. With BJP leading with 132 seats, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) winning 57, and NCP securing 41, the expansion reflects the coalition’s strategy to balance leadership representation.

Stay tuned for more updates on this significant political development.