Maharashtra Cabinet Expansion: The much-anticipated expansion of the Maharashtra cabinet is set to take place on Sunday in Nagpur, with leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) taking the oath of office. The event comes after the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a landslide victory in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, winning 235 seats. The BJP is expected to have 20 ministers, the NCP 9, and the Shiv Sena 12.
Maharashtra Cabinet Expansion: Shiv Sena Agrees To Settle For Urban Development & Housing Dept
Shiv Sena will have 12 ministers in the expanded cabinet, with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde leading the party’s charge. According to reports by ABP Majha, the Shiv Sena has been allocated key portfolios, including Urban Development (Eknath Shinde), Housing, Industries, Tourism, Health, School Education, Public Works (excluding undertakings), Water Supply, Water Conservation, Marathi Language, Mining, and Ex-Servicemen Welfare
Eknath Shinde had reportedly been lobbying for the Home portfolio but ultimately received Urban Development and Housing instead.
The Shiv Sena ministers to be sworn in include:
- Eknath Shinde
- Uday Samant
- Pratap Sarnaik
- Shambhuraje Desai
- Bharat Gogawale
- Dada Bhuse
- Prakash Abitkar
- Gulabrao Patil
- Sanjay Rathod
- Sanjay Shirsat
- Yogesh Kadam (Minister of State)
- Ashish Jaiswal (Minister of State)
Maharashtra Cabinet Expansion: BJP Ministers In Devendra Fadnavis-Led Cabinet
The BJP will have a dominant presence with 20 ministers, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The party’s list features three women, as highlighted by BJP leader Madhuri Misal, who said, “Our government has always respected women. Through schemes like Ladli Behna, we have given women dignity.” This list includes three women ministers: Madhuri Misal, Meghna Bordikar, and Pankaja Munde.
Here is the complete list of 19 ministers from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as part of the Maharashtra cabinet expansion:
- Devendra Fadnavis – Chief Minister
- Chandrashekhar Bawankule
- Nitesh Rane
- Shivendra Raje Bhosale
- Chandrakant Patil
- Pankaj Bhoyar
- Mangal Prabhat Lodha
- Girish Mahajan
- Jaykumar Rawal
- Pankaja Munde
- Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil
- Ganesh Naik
- Meghna Bordikar
- Madhuri Misal
- Atul Save
- Akash Fundkar
- Ashok Uike
- Jaykumar More
- Sanjay Savkare
Prominent BJP leaders in the cabinet such as Ashish Shelar and Girish Mahajan expressed gratitude for their inclusion. Munde told the media, “I am delighted that I am getting the opportunity to work in the team of CM Devendra Fadnavis once again. I express gratitude to PM Modi, Amit Shah, JP Nadda, and Chandrashekhar Bawankule.”
Maharashtra Cabinet Expansion: NCP To Get 9 Ministries, Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil Likely To Be Excluded
The NCP will have nine ministers, though the list has sparked controversy. Senior leaders such as Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil, and Dhananjay Munde were initially omitted, leading to speculations. However, Munde’s name was added at the last moment. NCP Chief Ajit Pawar deflected questions, stating, “The authority to decide rests with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.”
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Maharashtra Cabinet Expansion: CM Fadnavis Leads Roadshow In Nagpur
Ahead of the ceremony, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, accompanied by his wife Amruta Fadnavis and BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule, paid tribute to Dr B.R. Ambedkar in Nagpur. The CM held a roadshow, marking his first public appearance in the city after the Mahayuti alliance’s sweeping victory.
Amruta Fadnavis remarked, “The love of the people is overwhelming, and it increases our responsibility.”
Deputy CM Eknath Shinde and NCP Chief Ajit Pawar also arrived in Nagpur ahead of the oath-taking ceremony. Shiv Sena MLA Bharatshet Gogawale shared that 12 Shiv Sena ministers would be sworn in, with seven new faces among them.
Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC emphasised, “History is being created today. These leaders will work together for the betterment of Maharashtra.”