Shiv Sena plans social engineering

Shiv Sena might soon carry out a social engineering experiment during the state Cabinet expansion, as it is likely to induct Dr Sujit Minchekar from Kolhapur, who belongs to a scheduled caste, and Pratap Chikhalikar, a Maratha from Nanded. According to party sources, the Sena leadership is trying balance representation of Marathwada and the Western Maharashtra region in the Cabinet. Also, the party’s Rajya Sabha member Anil Desai will be inducted in Union cabinet while Sanjay Raut is in the fray.

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday confirmed that state Cabinet expansion would be held before July 10. “The Cabinet will be expanded before I leave for my foreign tour,” he said while speaking with mediapersons at Sahyadri Guesthouse. Mr Fadnavis will be touring Russia from July 10 to 16 and he will host a tea party for ruling and opposition party legislators on July 17, which is the eve of the monsoon session.

A senior BJP minister, on condition of anonymity, said, it was decided that the Cabinet would be expanded immediately after the expansion of the Union cabinet. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting and decided to expand the Union Cabinet in the first week of July. It will probably happen on July 4 and, hence, state Cabinet expansion could be held after this,” said the minister.

Mr Fadnavis had said that he was ready to expand the Cabinet without waiting for the Shiv Sena. “The BJP’s list is ready but Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray hasn’t finalised the name of his two legislators that are to be inducted in the state Cabinet,” the chief minister told reporters last month.

In the meantime, however, the Shiv Sena zeroed in on Mr Chikhalikar and

Dr Minchekar’s names, a Sena insider, who is close to Mr Thackeray, claimed.

Mr Chikhalikar is from Loha constituency in Nanded, Marathwada and Dr Minchekar is from the Hatkanagale constituency in Kolhapur district.

“Mr Thackeray has decided to give priority to legislators from the backward class. This is be social engineering, which the late Balasaheb endeavoured to do all the time,” the source said.

At present, most Shiv Sena ministers hail from the Konkan.