Maharashtra Cabinet expansion likely in May

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and BJP state president Raosaheb Danve have reportedly agreed on the expansion of the state Cabinet next month. According to party insiders, Kisan Kathore (Murbad in Thane district) and Jaykumar Rawal (Shindkheda in Dhule district) would be the most probable inductees. Meanwhile, the ministry has to fill 10 berths, out of which six will be in the Cabinet and four will be ministers of state. (MoS)

According to BJP party insiders, there was a dispute between BJP, its ally Shiv Sena as well as smaller allies over the some of the names to be inducted as ministers in the state Cabinet. BJP will fill up four Cabinet berths whereas Shiv Sena has to fill up two vacant Cabinet berths. The four MoS berths will be filled in by other allies.

The sources claimed that the chief minister had got the nod from party high command but Mr Fadnavis and Mr Danve could not come to a consensus on the names to be inducted into the Cabinet. Mr Kathore is from Thane district and before joining BJP, was a heavyweight in Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). His name will be considered as a bid to stop the influence of Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde’s from the same district. Mr Rawal’s name has been figuring in the circle of aspirants since last year.

Other probable aspirants are Pandurang alias Bahusaheb Fundkar (Khamgaon) and Chainsukh Sancheti (Malkapur) both from Buldhana district.

Either could be inducted and Mr Fundkar probably has the better chance, as he was an opposition leader.

Gulabrao Patil (Jalgaon Rural) and Arjun Khotkar (Jalna) from Shiv Sena will probably fill up the vacant Cabinet rank posts for their party.

Mahadev Jankar (MLC of Rashtriya Samaj Party), Avinash Mahatekar (RPI), Sadabhau Khot (Swabhimani Shetakari Sanghatana) will be considered for the berth of MoS.

However, Mr Mahatekar and Mr Khot are neither members of the Assembly nor the Council.

They will have to be elected as a member of either House within six months from the date of taking oath as ministers.