Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai (SHP)

Mumbai, Jan 8: With already a delayed government formation and a cabinet expansion, the Maha Vikas Aghadi is running into new troubles every day. As per sources, after portfolios were assigned, some ministers are not happy with the allocation. Along with portfolios, ministers were even fighting over the seating arrangements were some are vying to sit closer to the chief minister.

Vijay Wadettiwar, the minister for OBC welfare, salt land development and earthquake rehabilitation, boycotted the cabinet meeting on Tuesday as he feels his departments are unimportant.

Wadettiwar is a senior Congress leader from Vidarbha region who was also part of negotiation during the Maha Vikas Aghadi formation.

Meanwhile, at the cabinet meeting on Tuesday, a verbal spat over seating arrangement erupted between Congress leader Ashok Chavan and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal. When the chief minister chairs the meeting of the cabinet, ministers sit around him as per their seniority. It was learnt that Chavan objected to Bhujbal being allocated a chair closer to Thackeray. Sources said that Chavan, a former chief minister felt he should have been accorded more respect than Bhujbal, a former deputy chief minister.

Earlier this week, Shiv Sena leader Abdul Sattar, a minister of state for revenue, threatened to resign if he was not made a cabinet minister.