BJP's list of probable ministers for Maharashtra cabinet ready, central leaders to make final call, says CM Fadnavis

During his stay in Delhi, Fadnavis met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Pics/X@Dev_Fadnavis)

Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis said the names of the probable ministers from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in his cabinet have been shortlisted on Thursday and the final decision will be taken by the party's central leadership, reported news agency PTI.

Fadnavis held discussions on his cabinet expansion with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President JP Nadda and senior party leader BL Santosh in New Delhi on Wednesday night. The Maharashtra CM was on a two-day visit to Delhi, his first after taking office.

In Photos: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis meets PM Modi in Delhi

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State BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule was also present during the meeting, stated PTI.

"We are yet to decide on a date for the cabinet expansion. The formula has been decided and you will know about it soon," said Fadnavis, who took oath as Maharashtra CM last week.

Meanwhile, Nationalist congress Party (NCP) chief and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar said that Maharashtra Cabinet expansion could likely take place on Saturday.

The BJP-led Mahayuti registered a landslide victory in the recent Maharashtra Assembly polls. The BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP coalition won 230 seats while smaller outfits, part of the alliance, emerged victorious on five seats.

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance could manage to win just 46 seats in the 288-member Assembly.

Besides Fadnavis, Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde and Pawar were sworn in as deputy CMs in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and prominent personalities from the arenas of politics, industry and entertainment.

Meanwhile, Fadnavis also brushed aside reports of differences among the ruling alliance over the power-sharing agreement, according to PTI.

"There is no issue with the expansion of the cabinet. I had come here to meet my party leaders and discuss who could be the ministers from BJP. Eknath Shinde will decide on the ministers from his party, Ajit dada will decide on his ministers," he said.

He also stated that he and Pawar have come to Delhi for their respective meetings.

"Ajit dada has come for his work, I have come to meet my party leaders. I have not even met Ajit dada in Delhi," he clarified.

According to some reports, as stated by PTI, Dy CM Eknath Shinde did not come to Delhi as he was sulking on the allocation of portfolios to the Shiv Sena.

During his stay in the capital, Fadnavis met President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Modi, Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, stated PTI.

(With inputs from PTI)