Maharashtra government: BJP, Shiv Sena fight over berths
The Sena wants at least 10 ministries, including finance or home
Mumbai: A day after Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray attended the swearing-in ceremony of the BJP-led government in Maharashtra, both parties resumed talks on Saturday.
The Shiv Sena has reiterated its demand for one-third of the ministries, including key portfolios such as finance or home. Though Mr Thackeray left for Kolhapur on a tour, other Sena leaders are in touch with BJP leaders to continue negotiations.
“We will wait for the BJP to respond to our proposal till the vote of trust, following which we will sit in the Opposition. But we are hoping for a good response from the BJP as Uddhavji has spoken to their leadership yesterday (sic),” a Sena leader said on condition of anonymity.
The Sena wants at least 10 ministries, including finance or home. However, sources in the BJP said that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis might keep both the portfolios with himself. Also, the government will not have a deputy CM’s post, which was earlier demanded by the Sena.
Mr Fadnavis is likely to keep all important portfolios of the state government with him, including home and urban development, irrigation, transport and power until the next Cabinet expansion.
Other important departments like revenue and finance are likely to be distributed between senior ministers Eknath Khadse and Sudhir Mungantiwar, BJP sources said.
It has been hinted that the first-time minister and MLA from Mumbai, Vinod Tawde, could be given education and tourism departments. Chandrakant Patil is likely to get the cooperative department. Pankaja Munde, is likely to get the rural development department. Shiv Sena demands one third ministries; Fadnavis to keep key jobs.
As the negotiations between the Shiv Sena and BJP commence, sources said the new Maharashtra Cabinet is likely to be small, unlike the previous Congress-NCP government, which had a jumbo Cabinet of 43.
The BJP government will have only 28 to 30 ministers and it will be difficult to give 10 berths to the Shiv Sena, sources in the BJP said. Newly-sworn-in minister Sudhir Mungatiwar, however, told mediapersons that talks with the Sena had been positive. Mr Thackeray and BJP chief Amit Shah spoke about the Sena supporting the government after the swearing-in ceremony on Friday.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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