CM Fadnavis Meets PM Narendra Modi Amid Delayed Cabinet Portfolio Division in Maharashtra
New Delhi, 12th December 2024: Almost three weeks after securing a majority in the Maharashtra assembly elections, the Mahayuti alliance has yet to finalize the division of cabinet portfolios between its three partners—BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP. Following Devendra Fadnavis’s swearing-in as Chief Minister, he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Thursday to discuss unresolved issues. The meeting came after the three parties sought the intervention of central BJP leaders to settle the remaining disputes.
On Wednesday evening, Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda. Ongoing disagreements over cabinet portfolios led to this visit, though Eknath Shinde, the Shiv Sena leader, chose to remain absent.
Sources indicate that Fadnavis, Shinde, and Ajit Pawar had initially agreed on a distribution of 22 ministerial posts for the BJP, 11 for Shiv Sena, and 10 for the NCP. The total number of cabinet positions in Maharashtra, including the Chief Minister’s, is capped at 43.
However, the portfolio allocation could still change. BJP leaders mentioned that if Shiv Sena and NCP request additional positions, they may be assigned less prominent ministries. Major portfolios such as home and revenue are expected to stay with the BJP. Despite Shinde’s initial push for the home department, he has been allocated urban development, while finance will go to the NCP.
Shiv Sena had initially insisted that the election victory was secured under Shinde’s leadership, arguing that he should continue as Chief Minister. However, the BJP insisted on Fadnavis holding the top position. With the BJP needing only the NCP’s support to form a majority, Shinde had limited bargaining power. Publicly, he stated he would not obstruct the government formation and took the oath as Deputy Chief Minister on December 5. His current absence from the capital has raised political speculation, and it remains uncertain whether he will join the discussions in Delhi.
