Union Minister Ramdas Athawale expressed his disappointment on Sunday over the absence of any representation from his party, the Republican Party of India (A), in the recent Maharashtra Cabinet expansion. Athawale, who had previously been promised a ministry by Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis, demanded at least one portfolio for his party, news agency ANI reported.

According to ANI, Athawale claimed that he was not invited to the cabinet expansion ceremony, which was attended by Fadnavis and his deputies, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. "The swearing-in ceremony for the Maharashtra Cabinet expansion was held in Nagpur. The CM and Deputy CMs attended the event, but despite being part of the Mahayuti alliance, I did not even receive an invitation," he said.