Maharashtra Cabinet Expansion: Samant Says Merit Will Determine Portfolios Amid Discontent Buzz

Uday Samant, the state’s industries minister and a leader of the Shiv Sena, said on Tuesday that the allocation of portfolios in Maharashtra’s cabinet expansion will be done in accordance with the merit of the aspirants, despite reports of discontent among party MLAs who had been waiting for cabinet berths since 2022 but may now have to make way for recently inducted NCP legislators.

Samant continued by saying that portfolio allocation might happen as quickly as in a few hours. “The allocation will take place in a few hours. We have no idea if it will be two hours, twenty hours, or 72 hours.

The three leaders, Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar, are highly familiar with Maharashtra’s terrain. The MLAs’ skills will determine how the portfolios are distributed. We would accept the choice that was taken unanimously by them because we have great trust in Eknath Shinde’s leadership, he said.

After the Ajit Pawar-led NCP group joined the governing coalition, there have been rumors of unrest in the Shinde camp. Shinde, meanwhile, has refuted claims that Pawar and eight NCP lawmakers caused discomfort among his Shiv Sena MLAs.

We have the original documents and numbers, and we have done it all legally, which we will present to the Speaker along with examples, Samant said in response to the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker’s notice to both Shiv Sena faction MLAs regarding the disqualification claim filed by both factions against one another. He won’t treat anybody unfairly, we’re certain of that. Beyond that, it would be improper for us to remark, particularly in light of the Election Commission’s ruling.

He also questioned the Shiv Sena-UBT’s use of the term “gaddar” to describe Shinde camp leaders. Samant urged the Uddhav Thackeray-led group to adopt the same language while referring to Ajit Pawar and his MLAs who just joined the administration. I dare them to refer to Ajit Pawar and other NCP leaders by their first names. Let’s see what they come up with in terms of words.