Ajit Pawar's NCP gets finance and 6 other portfolios in Maharashtra Cabinet expansion

Earlier, the finance department was with BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis. The transfer of this critical department to the new coalition entrant can create a rift within the alliance, according to India Today.

In the latest Cabinet rejig, the Ajit Pawar faction secured finance and planning, food and civil supplies, cooperatives, women and child development, agriculture, relief and rehabilitation, and medical education departments.

Today, officials from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) visited Governor’s official residence Raj Bhavan to conclude and submit the list outlining the distribution of portfolios. Once the Governor gives their approval, the list will be forwarded to the Chief Secretary for further necessary actions, the report said.

Currently, the Maharashtra Cabinet consists of a total of 43 members, including the chief minister, two deputy chief ministers, and representatives from various political parties. Among these, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nine ministers, the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde has nine ministers, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) also has nine ministers.

Since joining the ruling BJP, Shiv Sena coalition, Ajit Pawar has been pressing for important portfolios for his party's ministers.

According to the report, he raised the matter during his discussions with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, aiming to strengthen the position and influence of the NCP within the alliance.

The MPs of both the BJP and the Shiv Sena have been expressing dissatisfaction though not openly, the report said, adding that the delay in the Maharashtra cabinet expansion was caused due to a standoff between Ajit Pawar’s camp and the Eknath Shinde faction.

Ajit Pawar's successful lobbying efforts during his meetings with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis have resulted in a big win for the NCP, enabling him to secure the coveted finance portfolio, along with other important portfolios, for members of his party.

Deputy CM Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar held several meetings on July 10-11 during which the two might have resolved the differences.

In a surprising turn of events on July 2, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Sharad Pawar saw a split, as his nephew Ajit Pawar and nearly three dozen MLAs joined the ruling alliance of Shiv Sena and BJP.