Maharashtra Cabinet Expansion: More Than 30 MLAs All Set to Take Oath Today in Nagpur.

Nagpur: Maharashtra Cabinet Expansion to be held today, December 15, in Nagpur. Over 30 ministers are likely to be administered the oath of office ahead of the winter session of the state legislature, which will begin on December 16. The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti coalition has finalized a new formula for the portfolio allocation, with the BJP retaining key departments, including the home ministry, despite demands from the Shiv Sena faction.

The BJP has decided to retain the home ministry, a point of contention raised by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who reportedly sought the portfolio as compensation for being demoted from the Chief Minister’s post. Under the new distribution formula, the BJP will oversee 20 departments, while Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) and Ajit Pawar’s NCP will each hold 10 ministries.

The cabinet expansion was formalized after a series of high-level meetings involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President JP Nadda, and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. State BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule also had separate discussions with Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar to finalize the allotment of portfolios.

While the BJP and NCP are likely to stick with their old ministers, sources say, the Shiv Sena-Shinde faction is likely to bring in some new faces in the cabinet. “The BJP will give it its existing ministers the tasks. The NCP is likely to go by its old ministers. But the Shiv Sena may appoint fresh faces as ministers,” said a source while speaking to News18.

Earlier speculations aside, BJP leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said that the final decision about the oath-taking ceremony has not been confirmed yet. “Our leaders are going to decide in that regard. Now the session is starting the day after tomorrow. There is no such information that the oath-taking ceremony will be held tomorrow. We are also expecting the information to come soon,” Patil said.

The coalition wants to finalize the cabinet expansion before the winter session of the Maharashtra state legislature starts. The move is considered crucial for smooth legislative processes and for meeting growing demands for portfolio clarity among coalition partners.

With the political spotlight now on Nagpur, the expansion is likely to strengthen the BJP’s position in Maharashtra’s power dynamics while trying to maintain harmony within the Mahayuti alliance.