Sources say that CM Eknath Shinde assured the dissident MLAs that he will discuss increasing the number of seats for Shiv Sena with Deputy CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis. (PTI/FILE)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde finds himself in a tough spot as Shiv Sena is likely to get only three or four seats in the cabinet expansion, with the rest going to BJP and NCP.
Shiv Sena MLAs, who have been waiting for a year to get a place in the cabinet, are said to be angry at being suddenly included in the cabinet. Ajit Pawar And eight NCP MLAs in the Eknath Shinde-BJP government forced the chief minister to cut short his visit to Nagpur and rush to Mumbai to pacify his supporters.
according to the sources Shiv SenaThe split that followed Shinde’s rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray is seeing further splits with MLAs from the CM’s camp divided into two groups – those who hold ministerial berths and those who hold the cabinet Looking forward to the expansion to join. The deputy chief minister and other NCP legislators were reportedly stunned afterwards.
News18 had reported on July 3 that the MLAs of the Eknath Shinde camp were upset with the developments. According to reports, two party MLAs clashed over the issue of berth allocation on Tuesday, following which the chief minister had to return late on Tuesday night from Nagpur, where he had gone to receive President Draupadi Murmu. After this, he called an emergency meeting of the legislators on Wednesday.
In the meeting, the MLAs reportedly expressed displeasure over the entry of NCP MLAs in the government. Sources told News18 that the MLAs clearly asked the CM when the cabinet expansion would happen and now how many seats Shiv Sena would get as Ajit Pawar would also seek NCP’s share in the cabinet. It is said that some MLAs have also demanded that the ministers whose performance is not good be replaced by new faces.
Eknath Shinde now finds himself in a tough spot as Shiv Sena is likely to get only three or four seats in the expansion.
An MLA who attended Wednesday’s meeting told News18 that Shinde assured the gathering that the cabinet expansion would happen soon and that he would discuss increasing the number of seats for the Shiv Sena with Deputy CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis.
After the meeting, Industries Minister Uday Samant denied reports of Shiv Sena MLAs being angry. CMO sources also denied speculation that Shinde may resign as chief minister in protest against the induction of NCP MLAs.
