Maharashtra cabinet expansion today: BJP to retain Home Ministry, Shiv Sena gets Housing | Full list of probable ministers

The Maharashtra cabinet is set to expand today, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expected to retain the Home Ministry. According to sources, BJP allies — Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) — will continue holding the portfolios they managed in the previous Mahayuti government, with the Shiv Sena likely to receive one additional ministry.

The cabinet expansion comes amidst a tussle over portfolio allocation among Mahayuti constituents: BJP, NCP, and Shiv Sena. The swearing-in ceremony for the new ministers is scheduled for 4 PM in Nagpur.

Shiv Sena to get Housing Ministry

Sources suggest that the Shiv Sena is expected to be allocated the Housing Ministry in the new cabinet while the BJP retains the Home Ministry. With former Chief Minister Eknath Shinde now serving as one of the two Deputy Chief Ministers under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the BJP may allocate another significant ministry to Shinde’s party.

Additionally, Shiv Sena members Deepak Kesarkar, Tanaji Sawant, and Abdul Sattar are likely to be dropped from the cabinet, sources revealed.

NCP to retain Finance Ministry

Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar is expected to continue overseeing the Finance Ministry.

Cabinet expansion proposals

There are two proposed structures for the cabinet expansion:

Around 30 MLAs may be inducted as ministers, comprising 15 from BJP, 8 from Shiv Sena, and 7 from NCP.

Alternatively, 18-20 MLAs could be sworn in, with 10 from BJP, 4-5 from Shiv Sena, and 4-5 from NCP.

Another possibility involves 43 ministers in total: 21 from BJP, 12 from Shiv Sena, and 10 from NCP.

BJP’s probable ministerial faces :

Chandrashekhar Bawankule - OBC MLA from Kamathi, Nagpur (Vidarbha)

Sudhir Mungantiwar - MLA from Ballarpur, Chandrapur (Komti caste)

Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil - MLA from Shirdi, Ahmednagar (Maratha community)

Girish Mahajan - MLA from Jamner, North Maharashtra (OBC Gurjar caste)

Chandrakant Patil - MLA from Kothrud, Pune (Maratha community)

Mangal Prabhat Lodha - MLA from Malabar Hill, Mumbai (Marwari community)

Pankaja Munde - MLC from Marathwada (Banjara leader, OBC)

Ashish Shelar - MLA from Bandra West, Mumbai (Maratha community)

Ravindra Chavan - MLA from Dombivli, Thane (Maratha community)

Atul Save - MLA from Aurangabad East, Marathwada (OBC)

Ashok Uike - MLA from Vidarbha (tribal community)

Jaykumar Rawal - MLA from Sindkhed, North Maharashtra

Parinay Phuke - MLC from Gondia, Vidarbha (OBC)

Sanjay Koote - MLA from Jalgaon Jamod, Vidarbha (OBC)

Shivendra Raje Bhosale - MLA from Satara, West Maharashtra (Maratha)

Nitesh Rane - MLA from Kankavali, Konkan (Maratha community)

Shiv Sena’s probable ministers :

Uday Samant - Five-time MLA from Ratnagiri, Konkan (Maratha)

Shambhuraje Desai - Five-time MLA from Patan, West Maharashtra (Maratha)

Dada Bhuse - Five-time MLA from Malegaon Outer, North Maharashtra (Maratha)

Gulabrao Patil - Five-time MLA from Jalgaon Rural, North Maharashtra (Gurjar OBC)

Sanjay Shirsat - Five-time MLA from Aurangabad West, Marathwada (Dalit community)

Bharat Gogavale - Four-time MLA from Mahad, Konkan (Maratha)

Prakash Abitkar - Three-time MLA from Radhanagari, West Maharashtra (Maratha)

NCP’s probable ministers:

Chhagan Bhujbal - MLA from Yeola, North Maharashtra (OBC)

Aditi Tatkare - MLA from Raigad, Konkan (OBC)

Anil Patil - MLA from Amalner, North Maharashtra (Maratha)

Sanjay Bansode - MLA from Udgir, Latur (Dalit community)

Makarand Patil - Maratha MLA from West Maharashtra

Narhari Jhirwal - MLA from Igatpuri, North Maharashtra (tribal community)

Possible Ministers of State

Idris Naikvadi - MLC, Muslim face from NCP

Sana Malik - Mumbai Anushaktinagar (Muslim representative)

Indranil Naik - MLA from Yavatmal, Vidarbha (OBC)

Key updates

The list of probable ministers has been submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for approval. Each party has proposed a mix of senior, experienced leaders and young, new faces, with BJP’s top leadership aiming to prioritize clean and fresh representatives. This may result in the exclusion of some senior leaders from BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP in favor of new entrants.