Maharashtra CM set to expand Cabinet, ally Shiv Sena joins in hesitantly

Even as the much-awaited expansion of the Maharashtra state Cabinet is finally scheduled to take place on Friday, uncertainties over the venue, as well as the participation of prime ally Shiv Sena loomed large throughout the day. There were several meetings between the officials after which the central hall of the state legislature was chosen as the venue for the oath taking ceremony of new ministers to be inducted in the Cabinet. But, uncertainty prevailed over Shiv Sena’s participation in the ceremony even after several meetings at Matoshree (Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s residence and Varsha (CM’s residence). It was confirmed late on Thursday night that two Sena legislators would take the oath as ministers of state in CM Devendra Fadnavis’ Cabinet.

A day after Shiv Sena expressed its unhappiness at being ignored in the Narendra Modi Cabinet expansion and reshuffle, the long-pending expansion of the Maharashtra Cabinet is all set to take place tomorrow.

According to sources, Mr Thackeray has asked for the elevation of a minister of state to a Cabinet minister for which Mr Fadnavis is not ready. However, in a late night development, the CM assured Shiv Sena that it would get the home department portfolio.

Senior Shiv Sena ministers Diwakar Raote and Subhash Desai met Mr Fadnavis and Mr Thackeray separately. A stormy meeting of party legislators was held at Matoshree in which it was decided to participate in the Cabinet expansion. Sources said that several legislators were opposed to joining the Cabinet.

They cited that the party was insulted by BJP president Amit Shah before the Union Cabinet expansion. However, their voices were drowned out by the party ministers. The ministers succeeded in convincing Mr Thackeray to accept the chief minister’s offer.

According to a source, Gulabrao Patil, legislator from Jalgaon Rural constituency and Arjun Khotkar, five-time legislator from Jalna will take oath as ministers of state (MoS) in the Fadnavis Cabinet on Friday morning.

“Mr Patil’s induction will boost the morale of shiv sainiks in Jalgaon district where BJP leader and former revenue minister Eknath Khadse has finished Shiv Sena, as well as Opposition Nationalist Congress Party by using government machinery,” said close aide of Mr Patil, on condition of anonymity.

He added that Shiv Sena will become stronger in the upcoming days. Mr Patil is known as ‘Mulukh Maidan Tof’ (Canon) because of his aggressive speeches.

Jalna is the home district of BJP’s state president Raosaheb Danve and Mr Khotkar is also from the same district. “It would be a political strategy of the Sena to dominate BJP from the Jalna district, as well as Marathwada region,” said a Sena insider.

Meanwhile, the CM called BJP’s probable candidates to his residence Varsha on Thursday night. The meeting was attended by Jaykumar Rawal (Shinkheda, Dhule), Madan Yerawar (Yeotmal), Sambhaji Nilangekar (Nilanga, Latur), Subhash Deshmukh (Solapur South), along with BJP allies Sadabhau Khot of Swabhimani Paksha and Mahadev Jankar of Rashtriya Samaj Paksha.

The 20-month-old BJP government in Maharashtra under the leadership of CM Fadnavis has been functioning with a strength of 20 ministers and 10 junior ministers. Fourteen berths remain unoccupied.

Of the 30 ministers in Mr Fadnavis’ Cabinet, 20 are from the BJP and 10 from the ruling party’s ally Shiv Sena. According to Article 72 of the Constitution, the number of ministers in the Union or state Cabinet cannot exceed 15 per cent of the total number of members in the Lok Sabha or state Legislative Assembly.