Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has demanded the crucial Home department from the BJP and talks on portfolio allocation are in progress, Shiv Sena MLA Bharat Gogavale said.
Gogavale, an aide of Shinde who heads the Shiv Sena, on Friday said the cabinet expansion is likely to take place between December 11 and 16, just ahead of the winter session of the state legislature.
The winter session of the legislature will start from December 16 in Nagpur, the state's second capital.
"When Devendra Fadnavis was the deputy chief minister (in the Shinde-led government), he also held the home department. Saheb (Shinde) has demanded the home and talks (on portfolio allocation) are in progress," Gogavale said.
When asked to whom the demand was made, Gogavale said it was probably Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The MLA from Mahad in Raigad district maintained that attempts are being made to change the portfolios held by the Shiv Sena in the previous Mahayuti government.
Gogavale hoped the talks on portfolio allocation would be over in the next two days.
At an extravagant function at south Mumbai's Azad Maidan on Thursday, Devendra Fadnavis was administered oath of chief minister for third term; and Shinde along with NCP's Ajit Pawar sworn as deputy chiefs.
Except from top three Mahayuti political leadership no other leader is being given oath of office today at this ceremony.
The BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP are some of the constituents of Mahayuti coalition, which won 230 seats in the assembly of 288 members of the last month's polls.
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