Maharashtra Cabinet Expansion Tomorrow, Uddhav Thackeray Likely to Induct Ajit Pawar as Deputy CM
For Ajit Pawar, this would be the third time he would be sworn in as the Deputy CM. The post was held by him during the last leg of UPA government in the state, followed by a four-day stint last month when he had took oath in the wee hours of November 23 along with Devendra Fadnavis, who had sworn in as the CM.
Mumbai, December 29: Over a month after Shiv Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray took oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, the state is set to witness an expansion in the Cabinet. Thackeray is expected to induct a total of 36 Ministers tomorrow, belonging to allies Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), along with his own party. Ajit Pawar of the NCP is likely to be appointed as the Deputy CM. 'Shiv Bhojan': Uddhav Thackeray Government to Sell Thali For Rs 10 in Maharashtra.
As per the pact sealed by the three parties before staking claim to form government, Sena would keep the largest share in the government with 16 Ministers, followed by 15 from the NCP and 12 from the Congress. While the CM is from Sena, NCP was promised the Deputy CM post and the Speaker was appointed from the Congress.
For Ajit Pawar, this would be the third time he would be sworn in as the Deputy CM. The post was held by him during the last leg of UPA government in the state, followed by a four-day stint last month when he had took oath in the wee hours of November 23 along with Devendra Fadnavis, who had sworn in as the CM.
The unprecedented alliance of Sena-NCP-Congress was sealed after the results of Maharashtra assembly elections 2019. Though Sena had contested in alliance with the BJP, the two Hindutva parties broke ties after publicly battling over the chief ministerial post. The voters had thrown a hung verdict, giving BJP 105 seats, Sena 56, NCP 54 and Congress 44.
Sena sent overtures to the NCP and Congress -- both of whom agreed to form a coalition government after finalising a Common Minimum Programme (CMP). After taking oath, Thackeray announced a farm loan-waiver of upto Rs 2 lakh, which was one of the foremost promises under the CMP. The government has also agreed to adhere to the principle of secularism, which was laid as a precondition for the alliance by the Congress.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 29, 2019 04:54 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).