Maharashtra Cabinet expansion may be delayed: Congress demands deputy CM's post, NCP says no

WHILE THE Uddhav Thackeray-led alliance of Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress coming to power in Maharashtra, the three parties are yet to find consensus on the power-sharing arrangement between them. On Friday, a day after Uddhav was sworn in as the chief minister, a fresh disagreement broke out between the allies over the post of the deputy CM.

Sources said Congress raised a fresh claim over the deputy CM's post, but NCP shot it down. With the state leadership of both parties unable to resolve the issue, the national leadership of the two parties are now looking at the matter, said leaders.

Apart from the Speaker's post, the three parties have also not found consensus regarding some key portfolios, including home, finance, revenue, cooperatives and urban development.

Owing to the disagreements, sources said that the Cabinet expansion of the Thackeray government, which was earlier expected to take place immediately after the floor test in the Assembly on Saturday, has been deferred. "Negotiations will continue. Once consensus is reached between all sides, the expansion of the Cabinet can take place," said a leader. 

(Inputs from The Indian Express)