PUNE: A Maharashtra cabinet rejig is on the cards following the demise of deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash. A search has begun for NCP seniors to fill the shoes of Ajit, who held finance among his many portfolios and was to present the state budget next month for a record 12th time.One name floating around is that of Dilip Walse Patil but it might be a challenge to hold the myriad portfolios, NCP sources said. Speculation is rife that with the likely merger of the two NCP factions, Jayant Patil, a senior politician of NCP (SP) led by Sharad Pawar, could also be a contender. A contemporary of Ajit, Jayant has been the state finance minister several times.

Jayant has claimed it was Ajit who was keen on the NCP reunion and had discussed the idea with him. According to Jayant, the decisive step was to be taken after zilla parishad and panchayat samiti polls on Feb 5. “Sharad Pawar’s loyalists like Jayant Patil and Rohit Pawar could get cabinet berths,” an NCP (SP) office-bearer said. Apart from finance, Ajit handled excise, sports and minority development. CM Devendra Fadnavis is now likely to handle finance and present the budget.