Mumbai: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is set to reshuffle his Cabinet. Highly placed sources in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have said that, in the next two to three weeks, the CM will bring about major changes in his team, with an eye on the 2019 general elections. The criteria for the reshuffle are political and administrative performance.
Around four to five ministers are likely to be shown the door, sources indicated. After the BJP’s triumph in recently held civic body and zilla parishad elections in the state under Mr Fadnavis’ leadership, the party high command has given him a total mandate for the reshuffle.
The national BJP is gearing for the Lok Sabha elections, and Mr Fadnavis’s changes will be on the same lines. Sources said, “Almost a year ago, the CM had alerted all ministers to prove their mettle politically as well as on a department-wise basis, or else they would be ousted. The time has come for some strong decisions now.”
Mr Fadnavis had briefed BJP national president Amit Shah about the need for changes in the Cabinet. The CM has argued that if new faces are given a chance now, they will get two and half years to perform and show results. The CM has also argued that he needs performers now, as the people would look at the government’s performance at end of the term.
There are few ministers in Mr Fadnavis’s list who are likely to be dropped. Tribal development minister Vishnu Savara, water resources minister Baban Lonikar and social justice minister Rajkumar Badole are some Cabinet ministers who are likely to resign. Minister of state for woman and child development Vidya Thakur and tribal development minister Ambarish Atram are also likely to be ousted for their poor performance. Probable faces that likely to be inducted are Rajendra Patani, an MLA from Washim, Ashish Shelar, the party’s Mumbai president and Devyani Farande from Nashik.
Case study
As of now, the state cabinet has 39 ministers. There can be as many as 43 ministers, as per the law. Out of the existing ministers, Shiv Sena has 12. Mr Fadnavis could keep two seats vacant. Sena is eying two berths in negotiations. Western Vidarbha is likely to get more berths in the reshuffle. CM Fadnavis is likely to focus on OBC—Maratha combination.
