Maharashtra Cabinet Expansion: Discontent Among MLAs, Government’s Promises, and CM’s Review Strategy
Maharashtra Cabinet Expansion: Discontent Among MLAs, Government's Promises, and CM's Review Strategy
The recent expansion of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance ministry in Maharashtra occurred in Nagpur, where 39 ministers were sworn in, increasing the total strength to 42. In this expansion, the BJP secured 19 ministerial positions, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena got 11, and Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) received 9. Notably, prominent leaders like NCP’s Chhagan Bhujbal and Dilip Walse Patil, as well as BJP’s Sudhir Mungantiwar, were left out of the ministry.
Of the 39 sworn in, 33 were appointed cabinet ministers, while six took the oath as ministers of state. The maximum allowed in the Maharashtra Council of Ministers is 43 members, including the chief minister.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar addressed the concerns of some MLAs who were upset about being left out of the newly expanded cabinet. He mentioned that some ministers who took the oath will serve a tenure of two and a half years, indicating that there will be opportunities for others to join during the remaining tenure. Ajit Pawar reiterated the commitment to provide opportunities to others over the next two and a half years during his address to party workers in Nagpur.
Many people aspire to become ministers and feel they deserve a chance, but the number of ministerial positions is limited, stated Pawar.
Following the recent Cabinet expansion in Maharashtra, some MLAs are reportedly unhappy because they were not appointed as ministers. Union Minister Ramdas Athawale voiced his dissatisfaction after his party, the Republican Party of India (A), did not receive a ministerial position in the Mahayuti cabinet expansion. He mentioned, “Our party performed well in the Vidhan Sabha elections. We had discussions with Devendra Fadnavis, who assured us that we would get at least one ministry. However, there is no representation for RPI(A) in this expansion. We are demanding at least one ministry in the Cabinet,” he told ANI.
Additionally, Narendra Bhondekar, an MLA from Eknath Shinde’s faction of Shiv Sena, resigned from his party role due to his frustration over not being offered a ministry, as reported by NDTV. Bhondekar served as the deputy leader of the Shiv Sena and was the party coordinator for Vidarbha, where the BJP-led ruling alliance Mahayuti secured 47 out of 62 seats.
Bhondekar, who is the representative for the Bhandara-Pavani Assembly constituency, has not stepped down from the assembly.
On Sunday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that new ministers will receive their portfolios within the next two to three days.
During a press conference held after 39 legislators from Mahayuti took their oaths as ministers, marking the expansion of the cabinet just before the winter session of the legislature, Fadnavis mentioned that the Mahayuti allies have agreed to carry out a “performance audit” of the ministers throughout their time in office.
