After weeks of anticipation, the Maharashtra government finally unveiled the portfolio allocations for its cabinet on Saturday. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has retained the prestigious Home Ministry, while Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has been assigned the Urban Development portfolio.
Deputy CM Ajit Pawar has been entrusted with the Finance Department, along with the Excise portfolio.
In other key appointments, Shiv Sena’s Dadaji Bhuse has been appointed as the new School Education Minister. Uday Samant continues in his role as Industries Minister. Prakash Abitkar, also from Shiv Sena, takes over as the new Minister of State for Health, while Pratap Sarnaik is assigned the Transport Ministry.
BJP’s Chandrashekhar Bawankule will head the Revenue Department.
The BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance, known as Mahayuti, emerged victorious in the recent Maharashtra Assembly elections. While Shiv Sena had initially demanded the Chief Minister’s post for Eknath Shinde, the leadership drama ultimately saw Shinde conceding the CM position to Fadnavis. There was also a push from Shinde for the Home Ministry, which was ultimately retained by Fadnavis.
List of Portfolios:
Aditi Tatkare: Women & Child Development
Jaykumar Gore: Rural Development
Sanjay Shirsat: Social Justice
Dhananjay Munde: Food & Civil Supplies
Ashok Uike: Tribal Development
Ashish Shelar: IT & Culture
Uday Samant: Industries
Pankaja Munde: Environment
Manikrao Kokate: Agriculture
Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil: Water Resources
Hasan Mushrif: Medical Education
Mangalprabhat Lodha: Skill Development
Chandrakant Patil: Higher & Technical Education
The delay in the allocation of portfolios had sparked speculation about tensions within the ruling alliance. The opposition took the opportunity to criticize the government’s handling of the winter session of the Maharashtra legislature. Ambadas Danve, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, pointed out that the session was merely a formality, as ministers attended without portfolios and failed to address key issues. “This session only highlighted old schemes and promises. Despite the cabinet expansion, portfolios were still pending, making this session more symbolic than substantive,” Danve remarked.
