Maharashtra: NCP to get the key portfolios and maximum positions in Uddhav Thackeray's cabinet
Mumbai/IBNS: The king-maker of Maharashtra, Sharad Pawar's NCP is going to bag the top ministeries, 16 out of 43 positions available, in Uddhav Thackeray's cabinet, media reports said.
The NCP has less number of MLAs than Shiv Sena., but it is likely to get the coveted Home Ministry portfolio among other key ministeries, apart from the post of Deputy Chief Minister, an NDTV report said.
It managed to get a larger share as Congress was given the position of Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly. As a result, there will be 15 Shiv Sena members in the cabinet and Congress will have 12, the report added.
NCP's Jayant Patil, a close aide of Sharad Pawar is a strong contender for Home Minister. He was one of the two MLAs sworn-in alongside Uddhav Thackeray in Shivaji Park on Thursday evening, the other was Uddhav Thackeray.
Patil had held the portfolio for a brief period in the NCP-Congress government in Maharashtra.
According to the report, Congress is likely to get the post of Revenue Minister.
There are two main contenders for the post from Congress: Maharashtra Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat, who is an eight-time MLA from Sangamner and has been also elected the head of the party's legislative wing, and Ashok Chavan, a former Chief Minister and a leader of the Marathwada region.
Both Chavan and Thorat were sworn in on Thursday's evening ceremony.
Shiv Sena, which fell out with its long-time ally BJP over power-sharing talks, is likely to get the Urban Development Ministry.
Earlier, this morning Congress MLA Nanasaheb Patole was elected unanimously the Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly while Devendra Fadnavis was appointed as the leader of the opposition.
In his speech, Fadnavis said, his party had nominated MLA Kisan Kathore to the Speaker's race but withdrew the nomination minutes before respecting the tradition that the Speaker is appointed unanimously.
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