Maharashtra cabinet expansion sees new ministers and rising dissatisfaction among MLAs

The newly formed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra conducted its first major cabinet expansion in Nagpur, inducting 39 new ministers, making the total number of ministers 42.

This development comes just 10 days after the formation of the government. The expansion allocated 19 positions to the BJP, 11 to Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, and nine to Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

Out of the 39 new ministers, 33 were sworn in as cabinet ministers, while six assumed roles as ministers of state. However, prominent leaders such as NCP’s Chhagan Bhujbal and Dilip Walse Patil, along with BJP’s Sudhir Mungantiwar, were notably left out.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, addressing party workers before the expansion, assured that ministerial positions would be rotated midway through the government’s term. “We will give an opportunity to others also for two-and-a-half years," he said, emphasizing that while many legislators aspire to become ministers, available positions are limited.

The expansion sparked discontent among some MLAs. Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, whose Republican Party of India (A) was excluded from the cabinet, expressed disappointment. He claimed the party was promised a ministerial berth. “We demand at least one ministry in the Cabinet,” Athawale told reporters.

Additionally, Shiv Sena MLA Narendra Bhondekar, discontented over being excluded, resigned from his party role though he retained his legislative seat. He previously served as the party's deputy leader and coordinator for Vidarbha, where Mahayuti won 47 of 62 seats.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that ministerial portfolios would be assigned within the next two to three days.

He further revealed a performance-based evaluation system, stating that Mahayuti allies had agreed to conduct periodic “performance audits” of ministers to ensure efficient governance. This evaluation mechanism aims to promote accountability and enhance administrative effectiveness.