Maharashtra Cabinet Expansion: Is Eknath Shinde unhappy over portfolio allocation? Dy CM skips visit to Delhi

As Maharashtra prepares for a cabinet expansion, Deputy CM er Eknath Shinde's discontent over key portfolio allocations raises eyebrows. With BJP retaining the Home Ministry and disputes over other essential departments, tensions simmer within the Mahayuti coalition.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is said to be agitated over the important portfolios. The Mahayuti government was to witness the cabinet expansion. In the backdrop of cabinet expansion, Shinde did not attend his visit schedule in New Delhi on December 11, while Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar landed there.

The BJP would get the Home Department-a point of contention with Shiv Sena. Shinde wanted that ministry ever since he accepted his swearing in as Deputy Chief Minister of the new government.

Maharashtra is likely to expand the size of its cabinet on 16 December. In this way, the government would end up with 43 ministries and yet retain the chief minister. According to reports, all three parties of Mahayuti — BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP — are driving a hard bargain.

Sources have informed that a formal meeting of the three leaders — Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Shinde and Ajit Pawar — was scheduled in Delhi today. The portfolios will be formally distributed as a result of the same meeting. But Shinde stayed back, reportedly.

"The Shiv Sena believes that BJP is systematically working to downsize its powers in the government. They are not only denying Shinde the Home ministry but are also not agreeing for Revenue, Industries and Housing portfolios sought by the party in the new government," a Shiv Sena leader was quoted saying by News Agency.

Is Eknath Shinde Unhappy?
Shinde is reportedly also not in favor of the NCP's claim over the Housing portfolio. The Housing ministry was with the BJP in the last Mahayuti government.

BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as Maharashtra's chief minister for the third term during a mega oath-taking ceremony at Mumbai's historic Azad Maidan on December 5. Shinde and Pawar also took oath as deputy chief ministers during the star-studded event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP's top brass.