Shiv Sena MLA Narendra Bhondekar Photo Credit: Rajesh Varadkar
Shiv Sena MLA Narendra Vondekar has resigned from all posts in the party, expressing disappointment over not being included in the Maharashtra cabinet.
Talking to reporters in Bhandara on Sunday, Vondekar, who is the deputy leader of the Shiv Sena and coordinator of East Vidarbha district, claimed that his party chief and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had promised him a place in the cabinet.
Vondekar said that he aspired to become the guardian minister of Bhandara district and reach the cabinet to work for development.
In the state election on November 20, he defeated his opponent Congress by more than 38 thousand votes and won from Bhandara region.
On Sunday, 39 MLAs of the Mahayuti alliance took oath in the first cabinet expansion in the Devendra Fadnavis-led ministry, including 16 new faces, while 10 former ministers were excluded.
The BJP, being the largest party among the allies, bagged 19 ministerial posts, while Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) got 11 and 9 respectively.
Mr. Vondekar said, “I had joined the Shiv Sena on the condition that I would be given a cabinet berth. Shinde had promised me the same. When Shinde became Chief Minister in the previous government, I was an independent MLA and supported him.” The army leader claimed that his name was also considered for the ministerial post during the last cabinet expansion (of the previous Mahayutti government).
He said, ‘I have decided to resign from all positions in the party after seeing the list of ministers and knowing that I have been left out.
Vondekar said that he was given the responsibility of the Council of Ministers to become the guardian minister of Bhandara district, but now he will work as a general worker of the party.
An outsider has been the guardian minister in Sri Bhandara district for the past few years. He claims that such practice has hindered the solution of the problems in the district.
“I am no longer in the mindset of holding any official post. I have submitted my resignation to my party leaders and am awaiting their reply,” Mr Vondekar said.
published – Dec 16, 2024 at 03:55 pm IST