Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde arrived in Delhi on Friday, he is visiting Delhi for the first time after becoming the CM. His visit is said to be very important. During his visit, he will meet top BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The cabinet and portfolios of the Shinde government are likely to be finalized soon.
📍Reached New Delhi for a 2 day visit with CM Eknathrao Shinde.@mieknathshinde #NewDelhi #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/YO1NS3g9LA
— Devendra Fadnavis (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Dev_Fadnavis) July 8, 2022
Shinde’s visit to New Delhi is taking place at a time when the leaders of the Uddhav faction are changing their side. On Thursday, 66 councilors of the Uddhav faction joined the Shinde faction in Thane. There is a discussion that around 10 to 12 MPs of Shiv Sena may join the Shinde faction in the coming days.
Shinde became the CM of the state with the support of BJP. Maharashtra Deputy CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis also accompanied him. Both of the leaders reached New Delhi for a two day visit.
CM Shinde and Deputy CM Fadnavis will meet PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP President JP Nadda.
About 54 ministers can be made in the Shinde government. 25 MLAs from BJP quota and 13 MLAs from Shinde faction can be included in the cabinet. After this, independent MLAs can be given the responsibility of ministerial posts on the remaining seats.
According to various media sources, before the expansion of the cabinet, along with the number, the department is also churning. The BJP may keep big portfolios like home, finance and revenue, while the urban development and road construction portfolios may be given to the Shinde faction of Shiv Sena.
BJP can give a chance to a new face in the cabinet. Also, Shinde faces the challenge of adjusting his MLAs. There are 40 rebel MLAs in the Shinde camp. In such a situation, keeping 26 MLAs together is not easy. However, media sources say that preparations are being made to adjust these MLAs in the corporation-board.
On July 11, the Supreme Court is to hear the membership of 16 rebel MLAs of Shiv Sena. If the Supreme Court’s decision comes in favor of the rebel MLAs, then cabinet expansion can happen anytime after 11. In case the decision is not in favor, the matter of extension can be postponed.
CM Shinde and Deputy CM Fadnavis met Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday night in New Delhi.
महाराष्ट्राचे नवनियुक्त मुख्यमंत्री @mieknathshinde जी व उप-मुख्यमंत्री @Dev_Fadnavis जी यांची भेट घेऊन त्यांना शुभेच्छा दिल्या.
मला विश्वास आहे की @narendramodi जींच्या मार्गदर्शनाखाली आपण दोघे जनतेची निष्ठापूर्वक सेवा कराल आणि महाराष्ट्राला विकासाच्या नवीन उंचीवर घेऊन जाल. pic.twitter.com/leTdbpulUQ
— Amit Shah (Modi Ka Parivar) (@AmitShah) July 8, 2022