Maharashtra Portfolio Distribution Gives Shinde Short Shrift: Report
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis launched Goseva Aayog’s website. Image credit @devendrafadnavis
BJP Sheds Spotlight on Ajit Pawar Amid Shinde Slide
By Amit Kumar
Mumbai, December 18: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has finalised portfolio distribution for the Mahayuti constituents. Report said that the Ajit Pawar-headed Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) gained at the expense of the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde).
A television report said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will hold on to the key portfolio of Ministry of Home Affairs. Former Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had reportedly been miffed at the BJP not agreeing to allocate the Ministry of Home Affairs to his party.
The portfolio allocation has long been awaited in Maharashtra. Fadnavis is likely to hand over the list of the portfolio distribution to Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan this week.
Fadnavis had also discussed the portfolio allocations among the Mahayuti constituents with Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah per media reports. A report by Hindustan claimed that Fadnavis made a phone call to Shinde while being in a meeting with Shah.
A report by ABP Majha said that Shinde-headed Shiv Sena will get Urban Development and Housing ministries. Ajit Pawar-headed Shiv Sena will get Ministry of Finance, as well as Department of Excise. The BJP will also retain the Ministry of Revenue per the report.
Ajit Pawar-led NCP had held the Finance portfolio in last term of the Mahayuti government. Political observers in Mumbai claimed that the BJP has given short shrift to Shinde while keeping Ajit Pawar in a good humour.
The Ajit Pawar-led NCP will also retain the politically significant Ministry of Women and Child Welfare. Aditi Tatkare of the NCP had gained the limelight as the minister who piloted the Mukhyamantri Ladki-Bahin Yojna. The scheme gained limelight for playing pivotal role in the victory of the Mahayuti in the Maharashtra Assembly elections.
The BJP per political observers is miffed at Shinde for making a public display of unhappiness. Shinde for days stayed at his village while Mahayuti waited for the government formation.
The BJP by winning 132 Assembly constituencies in the Maharashtra state polls is just 13 seats away from the simple majority in the House. The Shiv Sena of Shinde won 57 Assembly seats. The NCP of Ajit Pawar won 41 Assembly seats.
Meanwhile, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray met Fadnavis yesterday. The meeting has further fuelled speculations of the BJP warming up to the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.
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