Resentment brews after reshuffle

The first expansion of the state Cabinet has created tensions in the BJP-led government, as some ministers and their supporters are upset with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for clipping their wings. Supporters of rural development minister Pankaja Munde, who was removed from the water resources department, burnt an effigy of the CM at Ahmednagar on Sunday. The department oversees the CM’s ambitious Jalyukta Shivar project. Another alleged competitor of the CM, Vinod Tawde, was relieved of responsibilities while senior minister Chandrakant Patil has been entrusted with two important departments — public works and revenue, which are mired in controversy.

An unhappy Ms Munde tweeted that she was supposed to attend a summit in Singapore on Monday as the water conservation minister but wouldn’t go because of the rejig. “Reaching Singapore tomorrow on Monday there is world water leader summit I was invited but now wont attend since I’m not minister incharge (sic),” she tweeted. However, the CM promptly replied to the tweet, “Of course you must attend WLS 2016. As a senior minister you would be representing The Government of Maharashtra (sic).”

Mr Tawde, who was in the race of the CM’s post, was earlier given the education, higher and technical education, medical education, tourism and culture ministries.

In the reshuffle, the CM removed him from the medical education department and gave it to his trusted hand Girish Mahajan. The senior-most minister in the government, Eknath Khadse, is already out of the Cabinet owing to corruption charges. His department, revenue, which came under the scanner over allegedly illegal land deals, has been allotted to Mr Patil. Party sources said the CM has played it very cleverly by strengthening his position in the party and the government, as Mr Khadse, Mr Tawde and Ms Munde had expressed their wish to become the CM in the past.

“The Cabinet reshuffle will make the government more stable. The CM has tried to cut down to size his opponents in the party and has also given other leaders an opportunity,” a senior BJP leader said.