Mumbai: The BJP may well give 12 cabinet berths to its ally the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in the upcoming government in Maharashtra to make up for the chief minister post that Shiv Sena demanded, according to NDTV.
The cabinet berths that Sena to come by will include three major portfolios alongside having Shinde ensconced as the Depute Chief Minister.
Ajit Pawar’s NCP, the third party in the Mahayuti alliance led by the BJP, may get nine seats in the cabinet of likely 43 ministers, with the BJP keeping half of the portfolios. Ajit Pawar is also to be picked for the Deputy Chief Minister’s post.
Shinde’s Sena will get three key berths: Urban Development, Public Works Department and Water Resources, according to the report.
It is reported citing Ajit Pawar that the swearing-in ceremony could be held this weekend.
Shinde on Wednesday said he would not be an ‘obstacle’ to forming the next government, adding that his party would support the decisions of PM Modi and Amit Shah.
The BJP’s stunning gain of 132 seats in the Assembly has trammeled Shinde’s claim to the chief minister’s post.
Responding to the development, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve reportedly said that Shinde cannot pressure the BJP as the saffron party takes decisions independently.
Shinde earlier led a rebellion splitting Shiv Sena, which ended up toppling the Uddhav Thackeray government.
Meanwhile, Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut took a dig at Shinde saying that the BJP would not give him the chief minister’s post, as he served his purpose in the Mahayuti .