The Maharashtra government is finally gearing up for cabinet expansion. When asked to comment on the possibility of expansion, the Chief Minister said on Monday that the exercise would be done very soon. However, sources in his office said that the exercise could take place over the weekend after the chief minister’s visit to Delhi next week.
In another related development, state Industries Minister Uday Samant, who was addressing an official function as Guardian Minister of Raigarh, said that he is the “temporary Guardian Minister of the district”. He also hinted that Shiv Sena MLA from Mahad Bharat Gogawale is likely to be inducted into the cabinet and may get charge of the district as guardian minister.
Responding to the development, Gogavale said that he too had heard that the expansion could happen in about 10 days. Meanwhile, sources also said that Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made a quick midnight visit to Delhi last weekend. This is also being seen as an exercise before the expansion of the government.
A senior CMO official confirmed that Shinde is scheduled to come to Delhi for a meeting on Saturday and may also wait for the inauguration of the new Parliament building on Sunday. During his visit, there may be meetings related to cabinet expansion and the actual exercise may happen by the end of the month. Sources also said that instead of 11-11, only seven MLAs of both the alliance partners (BJP and Shiv Sena) may get a chance this time and the rest may have to wait till the next extension.
