19 BJP MLAs, including 3 women leaders, likely to take oath

After weeks of hectic talks over the Chief Minister’s chair and then who-gets-which-ministry, the new BJP-led government in Maharashtra is all set to expand its cabinet today. The BJP, which holds the highest share of Cabinet seats, is likely to induct 19 MLAs, including three women leaders, sources said.

The list of probable BJP leaders is as follows:

Pankaja Munde

Meghna Bordikar

Madhuri Misal

Chandrashekhar Bawankule

Nitesh Rane

Shivendra Raje Bhosle

Chandrakant Patil

Pankaj Bhoir

Mangal Prabhat Lodha

Girish Mahajan

Jayakumar Rawal

Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil

Ganesh Naik

To safeguard

Aakash Fundkar

Ashok Uike

JayakumarMore

Sanjay Savkare

Ashish Shelar

According to sources, Maharashtra may have 40 ministers in its new cabinet, with 50 per cent new and young faces likely to be inducted. The state council of ministers can have a maximum of 43 members, including the chief minister.

While former chief minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena may get around 12 seats in the Cabinet, Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) may get 10 seats, sources said. At least six new Shiv Sena leaders are likely to be sworn in as ministers: Pratap Sarnaik, Prakash Abitkar, Sharat Gogavale, Yogesh Kadam, Ashish Jaiswal and Sanjay Shirsat.

Mr Shinde’s Sena faction is believed to want the Home portfolio, which was previously held by Devendra Fadnavis. However, the BJP is unlikely to give it up and keep it to itself, sources said. The Sena can be offered urban development, public works department and revenue.

The Cabinet expansion will take place today at 4 pm in Nagpur.

In the November 20 legislative elections, Mahayuti won 230 of the state’s 288 seats. While the BJP got 132 seats, the Sena got 57 and the NCP 41 seats. On December 5, Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as the chief minister of Maharashtra with former chief minister Eknath Shinde and NCP chief Ajit Pawar as his deputies.

The Mahayuti alliance had also been criticized by the opposition for not having named its government for weeks, even though it had an overwhelming majority.

Ahead of the Cabinet expansion, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis held a roadshow in Nagpur. He was accompanied by his wife Amruta Fadnavis and BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule.

“The city of Nagpur is my family and my family welcomes me,” he said during the roadshow.