BJP, with 105 legislators, will get a lion’s share with 7 or 8 while the Shinde-led faction and Ajit Pawar group will have to settle at three each. Ajit Pawar group will get one cabinet berth and the name of Makrand Patil from Satara district is doing the rounds.
Amid talk of expansion of the Eknath Shinde-led cabinet, the excise minister Sambhuraj Desai on Monday hinted at a political earthquake in Maharashtra soon. He claimed that a senior legislator or a group of legislators currently with the NCP led by Sharad Pawar may extend support to the MahaYuti government saying that their discussions were underway with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Desai, who is the district guardian minister of Thane and Satara, further said that the much-debated cabinet expansion is being prolonged because of the ongoing talks between the NCP group legislators with the CM and DCM.
Desai said, ‘’A veteran leader from the Sharad Pawar faction or a group of legislators may support the MahaYuti government.’’ He, however, declined to divulge further details. However, Desai’s disclosure has led to a fresh debate in the state politics about further split in the Sharad Pawar camp.
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While Ajit Pawar led camp during a hearing at the Election Commission of India has claimed the support of 41 of the 53 legislators in Maharashtra, the Sharad Pawar faction has never revealed the exact number of legislators with it. However, Sharad Pawar faction sources have hinted at the support of 9 legislators including former Jayant Patil, Anil Deshmukh, Rajesh Tope, Balasaheb Patil, Jitendra Awhad, Prajakt Tanpure, Ashok Pawar, Rohit Pawar and Sandeep Kshirsagar. Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar camp has refuted Desai’s claim.
The present strength of the state cabinet is 29 comprising 10 each from Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and BJP while 9 are from the Ajit Pawar-led faction. CM can induct 14 more legislators in his cabinet.
BJP, with 105 legislators, will get a lion’s share with 7 or 8 while the Shinde-led faction and Ajit Pawar group will have to settle at three each. Ajit Pawar group will get one cabinet berth and the name of Makrand Patil from Satara district is doing the rounds.
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