Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is yet to take a decision on who would handle the 10 portfolios that were being looked after by Eknath Khadse. Sources said that finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar could be the first choice for revenue department, while other portfolios such as agriculture and minority welfare, would be divided among the other ministers.
Mr Mungantiwar, meanwhile, said the Cabinet would be expanded in the upcoming week. After addressing the media at the BJP office Saturday morning, Mr Khadse went to ‘Ramtek’, his official residence, while state party president Raosaheb Danve went to chief minister’s residence ‘Varsha’.
A party insider said both leaders discussed the possible candidates for the portfolios that were being handled by Mr Khadse. Mr Khadse had major portfolios, including revenue, state excise along with agriculture, relief and rehabilitation, minority welfare and Wakf, animal husbandry, dairy development and fisheries.
It is likely the chief minister will take charge of revenue ministry but Mr Mungantiwar is another possible name for the portfolio.
However, Mr Mungantiwar has denied accepting the revenue ministry. “I don’t want to attract controversies by accepting the revenue department. I have a major responsibility of finance and planning and its huge work in these departments,” said Mr Mungantiwar.
The finance minister further said the chief minister should keep the revenue ministry with himself. Stating that the Cabinet would be expanded in the upcoming week, he said, “I have suggested to expand it on the eighth of this month. So the issue of portfolio allocation will be solved,” he said.
Pandurang Phundkar, the senior-most party legislator (MLC) could be the next agriculture minister if he is inducted after the Cabinet expansion.
A party insider said the party had no legislators capable of handling the portfolios that were with Mr Khadse. “We don’t have an MLA who can handle minority affairs portfolio,” he said.
