Mumbai: The much-awaited cabinet expansion of the Devendra Fadnavis-led Mahayuti government on Sunday turned out to be a heartbreak for some of Maharashtra’s leading legislators. All the three constituents of the grand coalition – BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP – dropped some big names during the cabinet expansion in Nagpur on the eve of the winter session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
The 10-day-old BJP-led coalition of ministers in Maharashtra was extended on Sunday, with 39 ministers taking oath, taking the tally to 42. 33 MLAs were sworn in as Cabinet Ministers while six were sworn in as Ministers of State. Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan administered the oath to the new ministers at the Raj Bhavan.
By extension, the BJP secured 19 ministerial posts, followed by Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena with 11 and Ajit Pawar’s NCP with nine.
After two and a half years, there is talk that many ministers will be changed. Shiv Sena minister Shambhuraj Desai confirmed that a “tenure of one-and-a-half years” had been discussed. The ministers taking oath have been given an idea about this.
Recently Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar also hinted that after two and a half years, the ministers will be changed. In this way, we can give proper representation to all the districts,’ he said.
After his new team was sworn in, Mr. Fadnavis said it was “a matter of joy”. However, the BJP sprung a surprise by removing two senior ministers from the erstwhile Eknath Shinde-led grand coalition government, Sudhir Mungantiwar and Ravindra Chavan. .
Both the leaders are expected to be given organizational responsibilities in the BJP, with Mr Chavan likely to be made the head of the state unit, party sources said.
Mr. Pawar removed senior MLAs like Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil, Vijaykumar Gavit and Dharmarao Baba Atram from their quota in the cabinet expansion. He defended the decision saying ministerial posts are limited and everyone deserves an opportunity.
“We will also give opportunity to others for two-and-a-half years,” Mr. Pawar said.
‘During the previous tenure of Mahayuti, some MPs had the opportunity to become ministers for one and a half years. During the five-year term of this government, we have decided to give another two-and-a-half-year opportunity, that is, many will get a chance to become ministers and state ministers. Accordingly, more districts and regions will get representation,” Mr. Pawar added.
In Shiv Sena, senior MLAs Deepak Kesarkar, Tanaji Sawant and Abdul Sattar did not get a ministerial berth.
State unit chief Chandrasekhar Bawankule, Mumbai unit chief Ashish Shelar, Ganesh Naik, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Pankaja Munde, Girish Mahajan, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Chandrakant Patil and Nitesh Rane took oath on behalf of BJP.
Shiv Sena leaders Shambhuraj Desai, Dada Bhuse, Sanjay Rathod, Uday Samant, Gulabrao Patil and Sanjay Shirasat have also taken oath as ministers.
CPN leaders Hasan Mushrif, Dhananjaya Munde, Aditi Tatkare and Shivendra Raje Bhosale have also been included in the Cabinet.
The Fadnavis government will have four women ministers namely BJP’s Pankaja Munde, Madhuri Misal, Meghna Bordikar and NCP’s Aditi Tatkare.
With 39 ministers taking oath on Sunday, the strength of the Fadnavis government has gone up to 42, including the Chief Minister and two Deputy Chief Ministers – Mr. Pawar and Eknath Shinde. Maharashtra can have maximum 43 ministers.
On December 5, Mr. Fadnavis was sworn in as Chief Minister with Mr. Shinde and Mr. Pawar as his assistants.
The week-long winter session of the state legislature will begin in Nagpur, Maharashtra’s second capital, on Monday.