CM Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis cabinet expansion, will be a shock to many leaders

After the Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council results in the state, the Mahavikas Aghadi was shaken. Within 10 days, Uddhav Thackeray's government collapsed. Independence took place in Maharashtra. Eknath Shinde became the Chief Minister.

The 50 MLAs who were with Eknath Shinde and the BJP came together and claimed power. After that, Devendra Fadnavis along with Chief Minister Shinde took oath as Deputy Chief Minister. After that, everyone's attention is now focused on when the cabinet will be expanded.

However, the cabinet will be expanded after the July 11 Supreme Court hearing, sources said. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis agreed to use the performance formula along with other criteria when given the opportunity as a Minister.

It is curious who will get which account. According to sources, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde may have Urban Development and General Administration and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis may have Home Department. At the same time, Fadnavis is likely to have the extra finance account.

One or two of the nine former ministers in the Shinde group are unlikely to be given another chance. It is also possible that the BJP will give a respite to one or two ministers in the discussion. Therefore, there is a possibility of BJP using shocking tactics in the cabinet as well.

Along with Eknath Shinde, Shiv Sena has 40 MLAs and 12 independent MLAs. Therefore, the Shinde group is likely to get 15 to 17 ministerial posts. It is learned that BJP will get 25 to 27 ministerial posts.

Meanwhile, as the BJP has given the chief ministership to Eknath Shinde, one or two accounts can be reduced. There was talk that the two would share 50-50 per cent of the ministerial posts. However, the BJP's share will be higher.

An opportunity will be given to check the scope of working as a minister without using only these two criteria while achieving ethnic and divisional balance. Ministers will have to show more vigorous performance in less time.

The Shinde group will get relief from the court, it is claimed, based on earlier verdicts in some other states. However, sources said that Shinde and Fadnavis had agreed to expand the cabinet only after July 11 without taking any risk.

Opposition groups called for a by-election in the state after the Shinde-Fadnavis government lasted for six months. However, the BJP is saying that the Lok Sabha elections will be held in one and a half to two years and then the Assembly elections will be held in six-eight months.