Thursday, Apr 25, 2024 | Last Update : 04:35 PM IST
Maharashtra likely to rope in 10 MoS
The BJP-led Maharashtra government is finally going for its first expansion in the first week of December.
The BJP-led Maharashtra government is finally going for its first expansion in the first week of December. It is likely to appoint 10 ministers of the state, as clearance for the same has come from the top level of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The small alliance partners had been complaining about not been given a chance in the government earlier.
“BJP President Amit Shah has given clearance for the Cabinet expansion and the formal approval of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is yet to come. Out of the 12 vacancies, 10 will be filled and all will be ministers of state,” a senior BJP minister said on condition of anonymity. There can be 42 ministers in Maharashtra.
In the expansion, the BJP will take four berths, Shiv Sena two and smaller members Rashtriya Samaj Paksha, Shiv Sangram, RPI (A) and Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatna will get one each, the minister added.
From BJP, Jaykumar Rawal, Sanjay Kute and Chainsukh Sancheti are in the running while from the smaller partners, Mahadeo Jankar of Rashtriya Samaj Paksha, Sadabhau Khot of Shetkari Sanghatana and Vinayak Mete of Shiv Sangram will get a chance.
As per sources from the protocol department, once the Cabinet expansion is officially announced, preparation for the oath-taking ceremony will begin. The sources said it would happen in the first week of December, as they would need time for arrangements. Also the state government has its winter session of legislature in Nagpur from December 7.
The oath-taking ceremony will be held before the session. It will also be challenging for the government to get members of smaller parties elected on the Council or Assembly where one seat for Palghar (ST) is vacant. Swabhiman Shetkari Sanghatana and RPI have no elected members in the legislature. It will be mandatory for them to get elected within six months after they are appointed as ministers.
The Fadnavis government has already completed a year in office on October 31 with seven Cabinet and two ministers of state. Shiv Sena has 10 ministers at present.
