Maharashtra winter session opens while ministers remain portfolio-less

In a notable event in India's Maharashtra state, the winter session of the legislative assembly commenced without any portfolio allocation for 33 newly inducted cabinet ministers. This unusual situation unfolded during a period of significant political activity following the historic victory of the Mahayuti coalition, consisting of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena, and Nationalist Congress Party, during the assembly elections on November 23. The coalition secured 230 out of 288 seats, but despite this success, the government formation process was marred by delays. After almost two weeks of uncertainty, Devendra Fadnavis from the BJP was appointed Chief Minister on December 5, alongside Eknath Shinde from Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar from NCP, who took their oaths in a ceremonial event. Subsequent to the oath-taking, there was further delay in appointing the cabinet ministers. It took more than half a month to assemble a list of probable ministers, leading to their swearing-in ceremony occurring just before the winter session began. As a result, the legislative session kicked off in Nagpur on Monday, with the 33 cabinet ministers and 6 ministers of state completely unaware of their individual roles and responsibilities. Despite this unprecedented scenario, the ruling coalition proceeded to conduct business in the assembly as if the situation were normal. The first day of the session involved a somber motion of condolences for deceased leaders, while the opposition was relatively inactive in addressing pressing issues such as the violence that occurred in Parbhani and Beed. Notably, senior Shiv Sena minister Uday Samant introduced supplementary budgetary demands, typically the responsibility of Ajit Pawar as finance minister, further highlighting the irregularities surrounding the ministerial roles. Dr. Nitin Raut, a five-term MLA from Nagpur North, remarked on the oddities associated with the Fadnavis government's operations, emphasizing that legislative sessions in the past, even under unforeseen circumstances, did not face such challenges. As the session continued, portfolio allocation remained unresolved, leaving many questioning the efficiency and organizational capabilities of the new government. Chief Minister Fadnavis attended the Khasdar Sanskritik Samaroh event amid these delays, portraying a facade of normalcy despite the apparent confusion regarding ministerial responsibilities. This historical moment in Maharashtra has attracted significant media attention, as delegates examine how the coalition government can effectively operate without clear distributions of power and duties among its cabinet members.