Eknath Shinde Demands for Department in Maharashtra Cabinet : Amid heated deliberations among 'mahayuti' allies over the division of portfolios and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena insisting on the Home Ministry, the situation on Cabinet formation is expected to become clear by Sunday. The Devendra Fadnavis-led Cabinet is likely to be expanded on December 11 or 12. Despite the 'mahayuti' alliance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) winning a massive majority in last month's Assembly elections, the new chief minister took oath on December 5 due to internal tussles and pressures. The results of the Assembly elections held in the state on November 20 were declared on November 23.

Shinde's Shiv Sena adamant on the demand of Home Ministry

Sources indicated on Saturday that with Fadnavis continuing as the Chief Minister and Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar taking oath as Deputy Chief Ministers, the focus is now on the formation of a new cabinet, which is going to be quite difficult. After former Chief Minister Shinde agreed to become the Deputy Chief Minister, leaders like Uday Samant and Sanjay Shirsat have openly demanded that the Home Ministry be allocated to the Shiv Sena.

When will the allocation of departments and cabinet expansion be discussed?

Sources in the BJP and NCP said the composition of the Cabinet, including allocation of portfolios, is being discussed in internal meetings of the three 'Mahayuti' allies and alliance leaders. The massive electoral mandate has posed a huge problem for the 'Mahayuti' alliance as every ally has performed well in the polls. The 'Mahayuti' won 230 seats in the 288-member House while the opposition coalition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) managed to win only 46 seats. The MVA comprises the Congress, Shiv Sena (UTB,) and NCP (SP).

How many ministers are expected to be appointed from whose account?

According to sources, the BJP, which leads the 'Mahayuti' with 132 seats, is expected to retain 21-22 ministerial posts, including the chief minister. The Shiv Sena may get 11 to 12 portfolios and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP may be given nine to 10 posts. The Maharashtra cabinet may have a maximum of 43 ministers, including the chief minister. A senior BJP leader told PTI-Bhasha, "The final decision on the number of ministers to be sworn in in the cabinet expansion will be taken in two to three days."