The much-awaited expan sion of chief minister Eknath Shinde’s cabinet will take place before Independence Day and the home portfolio will remain with the BJP, said deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday.
Shinde and Fadnavis are in Delhi for the Niti Aayog meeting. Speaking to the media after attend ing the seventh national convention of the National OBC Federation, Fadnavis answered some questions regarding cabinet expansion, adminis tration, department allo cation, and the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Claiming that the state cabinet will be expanded before August 15, Fadnavis said the pre vious MVA government too functioned with a few ministers for a month.
“It has not affected the working of the government. Development works have not suffered at all,” he added.
Fadnavis claimed that the home department will remain with the BJP. However, he did not reveal who will handle the department.
He denied the reports that he would retain the home department. He explained that there is no connection between the Supreme Court hearing and the cabinet expansion.
He said the court has not placed restrictions on the expansion of the cabinet anywhere.