At least 11 MLAs from Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction are expected to take the oath as ministers soon, according to sources.
The party has reportedly prepared a list of former cabinet members and promising MLAs for induction into the state cabinet, sources informed India Today TV.
The list includes six former ministers from the previous government – Gulabrao Patil, Uday Samant, Dada Bhuse, Shambhuraj Desai, Tanaji Sawant, and Deepak Kesarkar – who are likely to make a comeback.
Alongside them, five new faces are expected to secure cabinet positions: Bharatsheth Gogavale, Sanjay Shirsat, Pratap Sarnaik, Arjun Khotkar, and Vijay Shivtare.
Shiv Sena is expected to secure 13 to 14 ministerial berths in the Mahayuti coalition government, with the swearing-in of 10 to 12 ministers anticipated later this week.
BJP’S RAHUL NARWEKAR FILES NOMINATION AS ASSEMBLY SPEAKER
BJP MLA Rahul Narwekar filed his nomination for the Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly on Sunday. Notably, Narwekar was the speaker during the previous Mahayuti government as well and is expected to be elected unopposed.
Narwekar submitted his nomination in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule, senior leader Chandrakant Patil, and other party members.
The election for the Assembly Speaker is set to take place tomorrow afternoon, December 9.