Allowed to stay Maharashtra CM, Eknath Shinde may expand cabinet soon

MUMBAI: With the SC order allowing CM Eknath Shinde to continue, there is a possibility that the government may expand its cabinet before the monsoon session of the state legislature on July 17.
In August 2022, then governor B S Koshyari had administered oath to 18 MLAs (nine each from the Shinde camp and BJP). All 18 were cabinet ministers, and no ministers of state were sworn in. “There is a possibility Shinde faction MLAs who are now part of real Shiv Sena will get inducted. The cabinet doors will also have to be opened if more MLAs, especially those who were ministers in the MVA government, want to come over,” said a functionary.
Meanwhile, celebrations broke out at Varsha, the CM’s official residence, after the SC verdict with party workers congratulating Shinde and distributing sweets. The mood was more sombre at Matoshree, the Thackeray residence, and at the Shiv Sena Bhavan.
Sena (UBT) functionary Sushma Andhare described the SC order as “operation is successful but patient is dead”, reflecting the mood. Another (UBT) member said: “We were banking on the SC order. The fact that the CM is going to continue has come as a setback.”