MLAs scramble for cabinet berths ahead of expansion

BJP is keen to not include controversial MLAs in cabinet; CM Fadnavis says list has already been sent to central leadership

- Saurabha Kulshreshtha and Yogesh Naik

MUMBAI: The scramble for ministerial berths in the new BJP-led Mahayuti government hit fever pitch on Saturday, with MLAs in the Shiv Sena and BJP in the ruling coalition vying fiercely for positions in the new Cabinet and council of ministers.

The first cabinet expansion in the Devendra Fadnavis government will take place on Sunday, a day before the winter session of the state legislature begins.

After much discussion, debate and several meetings between senior leaders, a decision has been taken on key portfolios and the power-sharing formula between the three coalition parties, clearing the decks for new ministers to be sworn in.

In the BJP camp, a stream of MLAs queued up to meet Fadnavis on Saturday, including Shivendraraje Bhosale and Rahul Awade. In line were also many young leaders, including Santosh Danve, son of senior leader Raosaheb Danve, Rahul Awade, Shivendraraje Bhosale, Namita Mundada, among others. Senior BJP leader and former minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil also met the chief minister.