Maharashtra cabinet formation, Shinde Sena, NCP Ajit Pawar, Devendra Fadnavis Suspense in portfolio

Mumbai:

Last week, Eknath Shinde was sworn in as Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister to bring down the curtain on nearly two weeks of suspense: whether the sulking Shiv Sena leader would amicably relinquish the chair of the chief minister in favor of the BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis? The answer – yes.

This week, the Sena boss could trigger a whole new period of tension for the BJP-led Mahayuti, which swept to victory in the November 23 elections in Maharashtra.

Sources told NDTV on Wednesday evening that he may not be present in Delhi when Mr Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, whose NCP is the third member from Mahayuti, meet Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss portfolios.

The battle over who gets which ministry – and the formation of the new Maharashtra government’s cabinet – is expected to be the next big challenge for the BJP and Mr Fadnavis, especially after he emerged earlier than each of his two allies had demanded top positions in the BJP. exchange for their support.

READ | Fadnavis, new chief minister of Maharashtra, Shinde, Ajit Pawar, his deputies

Mr. Shinde’s Sena faction, for example, wants the Home Ministry, under which the Maharashtra Police falls, to be held by Devendra Fadnavis during the last administration.

The argument here is that this is the only prize big enough to compensate for giving up the Chief Minister’s chair. However, the BJP is unlikely to want to abandon Home; the argument is that the party believes it has a number of candidates capable of running the department effectively.

The Sena can be offered urban development, public works department and revenue.

Mr Pawar’s NCP would like at least an equal share, even though it won fewer seats. The party pointed to a better “strike rate” – that is, the percentage of seats contested and won – to support its claims.

More specifically, he wants the Finance portfolio – previously held by Mr Pawar – to be returned.

Unfortunately for the BJP, it is a puzzle within a puzzle on this point, as the Sena would also like to withdraw from the Finance Ministry. And, unfortunately for Mr. Shinde, this wish is also unlikely to come true, as finances, planning and irrigation could fall to the NCP.

READ | BJP 22, Sena 12: What Maharashtra’s power-sharing formula might look like

A global framework for portfolio allocation was reached last month; under this deal, the BJP gets 22, the Sena around 12 and the NCP around 9.

Whatever the final agreement, it will have to be in place by December 16, when the new Assembly meets for the first time, meaning that a very short deadline is provided for this second chapter of the formation of the Mahayuti 2.0 government.