Eknath Shinde has denied that his party’s Shiv Sena MLAs were uncomfortable with the inclusion of Ajit Pawar and eight NCP MLAs. (PTI/FILE)
There is speculation of disquiet in the Eknath Shinde camp after the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction became part of the ruling coalition
Allocation of portfolios in the Maharashtra cabinet expansion will be done according to the merit of the candidates, state Industries Minister and Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant said on Tuesday amid reports of dissension among party legislators, who have been waiting for cabinet berths since 2022, but Can be now. Newly inducted NCP MLAs will have to give way.
Samant said the portfolio allocation could happen within a few hours. “The allotment will happen in a few hours. It could be two hours, 20 hours or 72 hours, we don’t know,” he said.
“Three Leaders – CM Eknath Shinde and two deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar Know Maharashtra and its geography very well. They will distribute portfolios according to the capacity of the MLAs. We have full faith in the leadership of Eknath Shinde and will accept the unanimous decision taken by him.”
There is speculation of disquiet in the Shinde camp after the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction became part of the ruling coalition. Shinde, however, denied that his party’s Shiv Sena MLA was uncomfortable with the inclusion of Pawar and eight NCP MLAs.
Commenting on Maharashtra Assembly Speaker issuing notices to MLAs of both Shiv Sena factions on disqualification petitions filed against each other, Samant said: “We have the original documents and numbers, and we have done all this legally , which we will present. President by example. We are sure that he will not do injustice to anyone. Besides, it would be wrong on our part to comment, especially after the Election Commission has given its decision.”
He raised questions on Shiv Sena-UBT even after calling the leaders of the Shinde camp.gaddars, Samant also challenged the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction to use the same words for Ajit Pawar and his MLAs who recently joined the government. “I challenge him to name Ajit Pawar and other NCP leaders. Let’s see what words they come up with.”
