Congress party has released portfolio allocation of its 12 ministers before it is formally released by the chief minister's office. Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee chief and party's group leader in the state assembly Balasaheb Thorat has received the revenue department, former chief minister Ashok Chavan public works and Nitin Raut energy.
Former leader of opposition Vijay Wadettiwar is the cabinet minister of OBC, Khar Land, relief and rehabilitation, KC Padvi, who comes from the tribal-dominated Nandurbar district, is tribal affairs minister, Yashomati Thakur is a minister of woman and child welfare, former chief minister late Vilasrao Deshmukh's son Amit Deshmukh is a minister of medical education and cultural affairs, Sunil Kedar is a minister of dairy development and animal husbandry, Varsha Gaikwad is a minister of schools education and Aslam Sheikh is a minister of textile, fisheries, and Ports.
Satej Patil, who comes from Kolhapur district, will be the minister of state for housing and Dr Vishwajee Kadam, who is the son of a former minister late Patangrao Kadam, is the minister of state for agriculture and cooperation.
Congress insisted that the party should get people-centric departments, and it was engaged in a series of talks with Shiv Sena and NCP. Initially, Congress had made a strong case of getting agriculture from Shiv Sena quota and rural development from NCP quota. However, after both the parties refused to yield, Thackeray, intervened and gave khar land and cultural affairs from Shiv Sena's quota.
Congress had agreed for 11 departments during the power-sharing talks held last month in the presence of Thackeray and NCP leaders. However, Thorat and Chavan later pressed for additional departments citing that the party has got lightweight departments. So Congress gets 13 departments that are equal to NCP while Shiv Sena will hold 22 departments.
Meanwhile, Congress has also released the list of district guardian ministers. Thorat has not taken the responsibility of any district but will look after his home district Ahmednagar. Others included Ashok Chavan (Nanded), Nitin Raut (Nagpur), Wadettiwar (Chandrapur), KC Padvi (Nandurbar), Sunil Kedar (Wardha), Yashomati Thakur (Amravati), Aslam Sheikh (Mumbai city) and Satej Patil (Kolhapur).
