BJP Denies Home Affairs To Shiv Sena In Maharashtra Cabinet

The BJP has decided not to concede the Home Affairs ministry to Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena in Maharashtra's Cabinet. Instead, they have offered him options like revenue, urban development, and public works. The finance and planning portfolio is already promised to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar from the NCP. A senior BJP source stated, "The BJP has made it clear to its alliance partner Shiv Sena that it cannot give home ministry."

Cabinet Expansion Plans

Devendra Fadnavis took the oath as Chief Minister on December 5, alongside deputies Shinde and Pawar, at Azad Maidan in Mumbai. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present at the ceremony. Fadnavis announced that the cabinet expansion would occur before the Winter Session in Nagpur starting December 16. Insiders suggest this expansion will happen after a special session from December 7 to 9.

Shiv Sena leaders are pushing for Shinde to receive the home portfolio due to his stepping down as Chief Minister. Leaders like Gulabrao Patil and Sanjay Shirsat have voiced support for this demand. However, with 132 out of 288 seats, the BJP insists on keeping both the home ministry and chief minister positions.

Portfolio Distribution Among Parties

A BJP insider explained that retaining the home ministry aids coordination with the Union government since Amit Shah holds this position in Delhi. In his previous term as CM, Fadnavis managed the home portfolio and introduced significant reforms that unified a divided police force.

The BJP plans to accommodate alliance partners' concerns regarding representation and key portfolios while maintaining a majority of ministers based on their numbers. Sources suggest that BJP will have 18-20 ministers, Shiv Sena 12-14, and NCP 9-11 in a cabinet of 30-35 ministers. The maximum sanctioned strength is 43.

A senior BJP official mentioned that despite changes in leadership from Shinde to Fadnavis, most cabinet adjustments will be minor. Each party is expected to retain its existing portfolios with some negotiations over specific departments.

Key Portfolios Retained by Parties

Besides home, BJP aims to keep energy, water resources, tribal welfare, housing, rural development, OBC welfare, and higher education portfolios. Previously held revenue and public works departments may return if Shiv Sena retains urban development.

Shiv Sena is prioritised for industries, school education, health, water supply and sanitation, public works (public undertaking), minorities development and Waqf board development, Marathi language portfolios which they held earlier.

The NCP is content with maintaining its current status quo but seeks the housing portfolio. They aim to retain finance, cooperation, agriculture, health and higher education ministries along with food and drug administration and women and child welfare sectors.

The coalition government has been managing Maharashtra for over two years now. While some changes are anticipated within departments due to negotiations among parties involved in governance dynamics across various portfolios remain largely consistent with previous allocations.