There has been an official response from Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s group that he has not been able to expand his Cabinet because of the litigation in the Supreme Court. It came a bit late, and we would have accepted even if it was given early. The reason is apparent, so there was no point in hiding it. It’s been over a month, the Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis duo is working without a team. Yes, both will have their respective teams, the only difference is that Shinde will have to decide on his own, though there could be ‘suggestions’ from the BJP. We’re told Fadnavis’s team is being drafted in New Delhi, and it could be full of surprises, thanks to the BJP high command. But Fadnavis has to have a team that can deliver in the next two years. Will he succeed in cherry picking? Or, is the ‘surprise’ narrative being used to check the ranks?

Late last week, the signals were out that this government was going to stay, come what may—even if the Shinde faction MLAs get disqualified. It is said that the disqualification would reduce the house strength, ultimately bringing down the number needed for a majority to run the government. The BJP, the independents and smaller parties could pull it off, they say. The disqualified MLAs could try their luck in by-elections. Some could get accommodated in the upper house.