Devendra Fadnavis Meets Amit Shah In Delhi To Allocate Ministers, Eknath Shinde Absent.
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Summary: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met Union Home Minister Amit Shah to hold a late-night meeting in Delhi over portfolio distribution.
Devendra Fadnavis, the chief minister of Maharashtra, is in Delhi to discuss with the BJP leadership how to divide up the ministerial seats among Mahayuti's three allies: the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP. NCP chief Ajit Pawar has set up party leader Praful Patel's residence.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde did not attend the meeting with Amit Shah. Sources claim that Fadnavis' trip to Delhi was likely to include a conversation about portfolio allocations with the top BJP officials. According to sources the cabinet expansion could happen on December 14.
"The cabinet expansion is likely by December 14. The allocation of the home department to Shiv Sena is ruled out. The Shiv Sena may get urban development, but is unlikely to get revenue," said a BJP spokesperson.
About 20 seats will go to the BJP, 12 for the Shiv Sena, and 10 for the NCP. With the Chief Minister included Maharashtra may have up to 43 ministers. This has been finalized after taking into account each ally's performance in the most recent Assembly elections, in which Mahayuti won a landslide victory. The Sena secured 57 seats, the NCP 41, and the BJP 132.
The BJP plans to retain 21 to 22 cabinet posts, including the chief minister's position, with four to five ministerial berths remaining empty.
To discuss the ministerial expansion, Mr. Fadnavis met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah yesterday night. He also met with Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
However, Mr. Shinde's absence has raised suspicions that the Sena leader has yet to reconcile after being forced to resign as Chief Minister in favor of Mr. Fadnavis, who was his deputy in the previous administration.
