The much-anticipated cabinet expansion of the BJP-led Maharashtra government will take place on December 15, Sunday, with the new ministers taking the oath of office at a ceremony in Nagpur, reported PTI citing official sources. The agency also reported that 30-32 ministers are likely to take oath on Sunday.
The council of ministers in Maharashtra can have a maximum of 43 members including the chief minister.
Maharashtra chief minister Devender Fadnavis along with his two deputies-- Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar reportedly wanted the exercise to be completed by the weekend so that the legislative work can progress smoothly.
The week-long winter session of the state legislature is slated to begin in Nagpur, Maharashtra's second capital, from December 16.
During the two-day visit to the national capital earlier this week, Fadnavis made courtesy calls to President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and a host of senior BJP leaders.
Furthermore, NCP leader Ajit Pawar called on Sharad Pawar to wish him on his 84th birthday in New Delhi on Thursday (December 12, 2024). He was accompanied by wife and Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar, and NCP leaders Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare and Chhagan Bhujbal. They were greeted and ushered in by Supriya Sule.
Fadnavis took oath as Chief Minister with Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and NCP chief Ajit Pawar as his deputies at a grand ceremony in Mumbai on December 5.
Meanwhile, state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Friday met deputy CMs Shinde and Ajit Pawar separately to finalise cabinet formation. Extensive parleys took place at Pawar's Deogiri bungalow in south Mumbai where he met his party leaders.
In the November 20 assembly polls, results of which were announced on November 23, the Mahayuti swept to power winning 230 out of 288 seats in the state. The BJP led with 132 seats, followed by Shinde's Shiv Sena with 57 and Pawar's NCP getting 41.
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