More than a month after Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis were sworn in as CM and deputy CM, there is complete uncertainty over the state cabinet’s expansion owing to multiple factors, reports Prafulla Marpakwar.
Bureaucrats believe an expansion will take place after the litigation before the apex court is resolved. Some officials feel an expansion on Friday as speculated appears difficult as Shinde is unwell and has been advised rest for a few days. Besides, he will be in New Delhi on August 7 for a NITI Aayog meeting. However, a BJP leader said the cabinet may be expanded on Friday after Fadnavis, who is in New Delhi, returns.
Shinde had said on July 27 that he would expand the cabinet in the following three days, and Fadnavis had said it would happen soon. The faction’s spokesperson Deepak Kesarkar said on Wednesday that the expansion would happen before Sunday, while BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar on Thursday said the cabinet will be expanded before August 15. A BJP leader said, “Fadnavis is in New Delhi with a list of cabinet members. He will meet the BJP leadership and return to Mumbai.”
Bureaucrats believe an expansion will take place after the litigation before the apex court is resolved. Some officials feel an expansion on Friday as speculated appears difficult as Shinde is unwell and has been advised rest for a few days. Besides, he will be in New Delhi on August 7 for a NITI Aayog meeting. However, a BJP leader said the cabinet may be expanded on Friday after Fadnavis, who is in New Delhi, returns.
Shinde had said on July 27 that he would expand the cabinet in the following three days, and Fadnavis had said it would happen soon. The faction’s spokesperson Deepak Kesarkar said on Wednesday that the expansion would happen before Sunday, while BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar on Thursday said the cabinet will be expanded before August 15. A BJP leader said, “Fadnavis is in New Delhi with a list of cabinet members. He will meet the BJP leadership and return to Mumbai.”