The Maharashtra cabinet expansion event scheduled to be held in Nagpur on Sunday holds a special significance as it will take place in the city after a leap of 33 years.
The event, which usually takes place in Mumbai, had last taken place in the second capital city of Maharashtra in 1991. That year, Chhagan Bhujbal turned rebel within the Bal Thackeray-led Shiv Sena after which he was expelled by Thackeray.
After 33 years, the event is again slated to take place in Nagpur with 21 BJP leaders, 12 Shiv Sena leaders, and 10 NCP leaders expected to take oath as ministers in the Devendra Fadnavis cabinet.
A maximum of 43 members can be given a berth in the Council of Ministers in Maharashtra.
Ahead of the cabinet expansion, a rally of parleys is underway in the state to iron out any differences. On Friday, Maharashtra BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule met Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena President Eknath Shinde. Several Sena leaders were present during the meeting.
According to reports, Shinde is upset over the allocation of key portfolios. It has been reported that he is demanding the Home and Revenue Department, but the BJP is unwilling to concede. The Fadnavis government has decided to keep the Home Ministry in the new government.
As per sources, Bawankule told Shinde that despite being the largest party, the BJP is providing its alliance partners, the NCP and Shiv Sena, with adequate representation as well as key portfolios.
Pawar will reach Nagpur by Saturday night to participate in the cabinet expansion event. Chhagan Bhujbal, Aditi Tatkare, Anil Patil, Sanjay Bansode, Ajit Pawar, Makrand Patil, Narhari Jirwal, Dhananjay Munde are some of the leaders of the NCP expected to be sworn in as ministers in the Maharashtra cabinet.