The expansion of Maharashtra Cabinet was postponed after cracks appeared within the internal folds of both the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had earlier hinted at a Cabinet expansion on June 14 or 15, ahead of the monsoon session of the state Legislative Assembly scheduled to begin on June 17.
Fissures appeared within the Sena over the post of state Deputy Chief Minister. According to sources, one section of the Sena wants public works minister Eknath Shinde as the deputy CM, while another section wants industries and mining minister Subhash Desai. The BJP had presented two offers to the Sena – the post of deputy CM or two ministerial berths in the state government.