Maharashtra Cabinet Expansion Today, Ajit Pawar May Get Deputy CM Post, Home Portfolio: Sources

NCP leader Ajit Pawar is expected to get the post of deputy chief minister of Maharashtra as the much-awaited cabinet expansion in the state will take place on Monday, sources said. The sources said Ajit Pawar may also get the charge of the home ministry. 

According to the agreement reached between the three parties -- the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress -- at the time of coming together, the Sena will have 16 ministers apart from Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, the NCP 14, including deputy chief minister, and the Congress 12.

Currently, the portfolios have been distributed among six ministers who make up the cabinet with two each from the Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress.

Following are the leaders who may become ministers:

• NCP’s Dhananjay Munde: Finance Ministry 
• NCP’s Jayant Patil: Irrigation Ministry 
• NCP’s Chhagan Bhujbal: Rural Development 

Other NCP leaders like Nawab Malik,  Jitendra Awhad, Aditi Sunil Tatkare, Anil Deshmukh and Dilip Walse-Patil may also get some portfolios.

The Shiv Sena joined hands with the Congress and NCP, its traditional adversaries, after its alliance with the BJP collapsed.