MUMBAI: Shiv Sena ’s Eknath Shinde will be the new home minister of Maharashtra and NCP's Jayant Patil will hold the key finance portfolio as chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday assigned portfolios in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

Shinde has also been given the important urban development and environment ministries along with forest, water supply, water conservation, tourism, public undertakings, parliamentary affairs departments. Patil will head the finance and planning, housing, public health, co-operation, food & civil supplies, labour and minority welfare ministries.

Thackeray, along with six ministers — two each from Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress — took oath of office on November 28.

Chhagan Bhujbal of the NCP is the rural development minister and will also head the social justice department.

The other Sena minister, Subhash Desai, has been given the charge of industries, higher and technical education, sports and youth welfare, horticulture, transport, marathi language and cultural affairs, ports.

Congress minister Balasaheb Thorat has been given revenue, energy, medical education, school education, animal husbandry and dairy development, fisheries.

Congress's Nitin Raut has been given PWD, tribal welfare, women and child welfare, textile, relief and rehabilitation, obc,vjnt, special backward class welfare.

The portfolio distribution took place ahead of the first legislative session which begins from December 16.T he cabinet will be expanded further after the session.

Thackeray will oversee portfolios not assigned to the others, said a press release.

(With agency inputs)



In Video: Maharashtra govt: Shiv Sena gets home, NCP finance, Cong revenue and PWD