Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday spoke about his visit to Delhi amid reports of a rift between the ruling Mahayuti alliance and its key ally Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde over cabinet expansion saying the formula has been decided.
CM Fadnavis went to Delhi for a two-day visit on Wednesday, which his office said to be a courtesy visit but, according to media reports, aims to resolve the conflict. His deputy Ajit Pawar also accompanied him during the visit but an aggrieved Eknath Shinde chose to skip.
In a bid to put the speculations to rest, Fadnavis spoke with reporters on Thursday saying he is in Delhi for party-related meetings while Pawar has come for his work.
"...You people have run a lot of news about me and Ajit Pawar coming to Delhi that it is related to the cabinet expansion. I have seen those, but I would like to make one thing clear that I have come party related meetings and Ajit Pawar has come for his work...," he said.
"There is no need to speculate much on these things. In our party, decisions are taken by the parliamentary board and our senior leadership... As far as making ministers from the BJP quota is concerned, we will take a decision on it. Similarly, the NCP and Shiv Sena will decide the names of their ministers at their level. The formula for cabinet expansion is already decided. You will get to know about it soon...," he added.
According to reports, consensus has been reached by the three parties -- Bharatiya Janata Party, Nationalist Congress Party, and Shiv Sena -- on the sharing of ministerial berths and top portfolios, though contention remains over certain departments and the alliance has sought central BJP's intervention to iron them out.