Modi likely to expand Cabinet

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Council of Ministers may be expanded soon as the BJP is understood to have offered additional positions to its NDA ally Shiv Sena in exchan-ge for its support for the formation of government in Maharashtra.

Sources in the BJP said that their party’s negotiations with the Sena included the allocation of additional ministerial positions at the Centre.

The expansion is also expected to accommodate the Janata Dal (United). The sources said that a decision on possible representation of other allies, like the Apna Dal and the AIADMK may also be taken.

The BJP and the Shiv Sena have been at loggerheads over the power sharing arrangement in Maharashtra after the Assembly polls results were declared and the adjustment at the Central government is expected to bring the alliance back on track.

The sources in the BJP said that once the agreement on the issue is reac-hed, an announcement about the swearing-in ceremony of the Devendra Fadnavis cabinet would be made public.

Despite a pre-poll alliance, the NDA partners have been unable to agree on government formation in the state. The fate of the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly has been hanging in balance ever since results were declared on October 24 as the two parties are squabbling over sharing power, especially Shiv Sena’s claim that a 50-50 formula, which includes sharing the chief ministership between the two allies, had been agreed and must be accepted. The BJP is adamant that Fadnavis will be the CM for the full term.

While the BJP is the single largest party in the Assembly with 105 seats, its NDA ally Shiv Sena won 56 seats. The Opposition parties — Congress (44) and Nationalist Congress Party (54) — who also had a pre-poll alliance, are nowhere near the half-way mark.

BJP sources say that though the Shiv Sena has been posturing and playing hard to get it ever since the poll results, it is expected to eventually come on board with the proposed power sharing formula. The BJP is also banking on the support of 13 Independent candidates elected to the House.

It was also felt that the newly elected legislators would like to avoid a constitutional crisis as the new state government has to be sworn-in on or before 7 November. The current term of the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly ends on 8 November.  

The BJP also hopes to end speculation over alliance troubles in Bihar by including the JD(U) in the Cabinet through the impending expansion. Sources said that the move would put to rest all speculation that the two parties are likely to part ways ahead of the state Assembly polls, scheduled for later part of next year.  

Sources also said that after talks are completed, the Cabinet expansion could take place before the winter session of Parliament which begins from November 18, or immediately after the Jharkhand Assembly elections in December.