Shinde's bid for key depts delays cabinet expansion

Former CM opposes finance dept for Ajit if he doesn't get home; swearing-in to be held Sunday evening

- Surendra P Gangan and Faisal Malik

MUMBAI: Eknath Shinde is still holding out, in an all-out effort to salvage what he can from a BJP-led government that is calling the shots. The reluctant deputy chief minister, who pushed for the sensitive home portfolio till the last minute, among other things, has delayed the proposed cabinet expansion ahead of the winter session of the state legislature.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis was keen to expand the cabinet by Saturday, before the winter session starts on December 16, but the three allies in the BJP-led Mahayuti government haven't been able to decide on portfolio allocation although the government was sworn in almost two weeks ago. The new ministers will take oath at the Raj Bhavan in Nagpur at 4pm on Sunday.