Nagpur: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, right, with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari during a 'Swagat rally' upon the former�s arrival, in Nagpur, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (PTI Photo)
NAGPUR — The 10-day-old BJP-led Mahayuti
alliance ministry in Maharashtra was expanded at Nagpur on Sunday, with 39
ministers being sworn in, taking its strength to 42.
In the expansion, BJP got 19 ministerial berths, followed by
11 to Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and 9 for Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress
Party.
While 33 legislators were sworn in as cabinet ministers, six
took oath as ministers of state.
Governor P C Radhakrishnan administered the oath to the new
ministers at the ceremony held on the eve of the state legislature's winter
session being held in Nagpur from December 16 to 21.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and deputy CMs Eknath
Shinde and Ajit Pawar, who took oath in Mumbai on December 5, were present.
The new cabinet includes state BJP chief Chandrashekhar
Bawankule and Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar.
Results of the state assembly elections, held on November
20, were declared on November 23.
Those left out in
cabinet expansion to also get chance later: Ajit Pawar
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday said
the ruling Mahayuti will also give a chance to other legislators, who have not
found a place in the current ministry, during this government's tenure.
"We will give an opportunity to others also for
two-and-a-half years," NCP leader Pawar said addressing a gathering of his
party workers in Nagpur before the cabinet expansion.
Everybody wants to become a minister and deserves an
opportunity, but the ministerial berths are limited, he pointed out.
The 10-day-old BJP-led Mahayuti alliance ministry in
Maharashtra was expanded here on Sunday, with 39 ministers being sworn in,
taking its strength to 42.
In the expansion, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) got 19
ministerial berths, followed by 11 to Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and 9 for
Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
Among the prominent leaders left out of the ministry include
NCP's Chhagan Bhujbal and Dilip Walse Patil and BJP's Sudhir Mungantiwar.
While 33 legislators were sworn in as cabinet ministers, six
took oath as ministers of state.
The council of ministers in Maharashtra can have a maximum
of 43 members, including the chief minister.
In the November 20 assembly polls, the Mahayuti swept to
power, winning 230 out of 288 seats in the state.
The BJP led with 132 seats, followed by Shinde's Shiv Sena
with 57 and Pawar's NCP getting 41.
"Everyone feels like getting an opportunity to be become
minister. However, the ministerial berths remain limited while everyone
deserves a chance," Pawar said.
During the previous tenure of the Mahayuti government, some
legislators got an opportunity to work as ministers for one-and-a-half years,
he noted.
"We have decided that during the five-year tenure of
this government, we will give an opportunity to others also for two-and-a-half
years, which means many will get a chance to become (cabinet) ministers and
state ministers. Accordingly, many districts and regions will get
representation," Pawar added.
The week-long winter session of the state legislature is
slated to begin in Nagpur, Maharashtra's second capital, on Monday.
Nagpur: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, right, with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari during a 'Swagat rally' upon the former�s arrival, in Nagpur, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (PTI Photo)