Maha scramble over portfolios

Fadnavis says cabinet expansion before assembly winter session, Shinde still eyes home

- SUDHIR SURYAWANSHI @Mumbai

A day after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar were sworn in, the Maha Yuti alliance in Maharashtra faces the challenge of ministerial portfolio allocations, which has turned out to be a tightrope walk for the allies.

Shiv Sena leader and MLA Sanjay Shirsat said everyone wants to be sworn in as a minister but the berths are limited. The alliance has the support of 232 MLAs but can induct only 43 ministers. "So, who should be sworn in? This is a big question. In the last government, many of them missed the opportunity and now they are expecting ministries. We are hopeful that the party leadership will take an appropriate decision that will be acceptable to all," said Shirsat who is an aspirant for a ministerial post.