NCP presses CM Fadnavis for Finance portfolio; Bhujbal calls Cabinet reshuffle talk baseless

Maharashtra minister and senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said on Sunday that a party delegation had met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and put forward its demand for the Finance portfolio. Bhujbal said clearly, however, that there was nothing to the speculation about a Cabinet reshuffle in the state.

Speaking to reporters, Bhujbal was asked about the talk of a merger of the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). He replied that the issue was a "closed chapter", that is, a matter that had ended.

The Finance portfolio was earlier held by NCP leader and then Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who died in a plane crash in January. The portfolio is currently with Chief Minister Fadnavis.

The NCP delegation that met Fadnavis on Sunday comprised Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, senior leaders Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel, and Bhujbal. They all asked the Chief Minister to give the Finance portfolio to the NCP.

Bhujbal, who is the Food and Civil Supplies Minister, was asked whether Fadnavis had given any assurance on the demand or indicated a timeline. He said no fixed date could be given as yet. He claimed the Chief Minister had shown a positive attitude towards the demand.

Asked whether the NCP would accept any other arrangement in place of the Finance portfolio, Bhujbal said bluntly, "We want only the Finance portfolio."

The NCP has thus signalled that it will stand by its demand, while Bhujbal rejected speculation on both the Cabinet reshuffle and the merger of the party's two factions. Chief Minister Fadnavis's decision on the Finance portfolio will now matter.