Maha cabinet expansion unlikely before monsoon session

By Vikas Vaidya

Highly speculated in the political circles, cabinet expansion in Maharashtra may not take place before monsoon session of the State Legislature. According to high level sources, the power game is playing predominant role that is delaying the final decision on the cabinet expansion. The speculations about the cabinet expansion in the State have some reasons. The Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party is in a hurry to get ministerial berths with a share in key portfolios like Irrigation, Finance, Energy, State Excise etc. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Rajya Sabha Member Praful Patel had been to Delhi to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

According to sources, Shah has agreed to 90% demands of Ajit Pawar as far as allotment of portfolios in Maharashtra is concerned. Finance is to be given to Ajit Pawar faction for sure. Also, Ajit Pawar group’s Aditi Tatkare is the front runner to become Women and Child Welfare Minister. Though Aditi is a first time MLA, she is the only woman face in the present Government. It is also being speculated that one more leader from Sharad Pawar camp may join Ajit Pawar faction. This is also a reasons for delay in the portfolio allotment. There is uneasy feeling in BJP and Shiv Sena (Shinde) camp as both are anxious as to which portfolios they would get. Presently, of the 105 members of BJP, only 8 are ministers. Of them, Wikhe Patil and Vijay Kumar Gavit are not the original BJP members. Obviously, the remaining BJP members are hopeful of getting ministry in the new cabinet. After Ajit Pawar faction joining Government, Shinde’s Sena or Independents have a little role to play. Ajit Pawar brought 45 MLAs along to form a solid foundation for this Government.

This may affect the bargaining power of Shinde’s Sena. The number of present ministers is 29. As per the rule, there can be 43 ministers which means, the Government can induct 14 more ministers. It is a game of calculation and the pressure will be on BJP as to whom to make the minister. There are several takers from Shinde as well as BJP camps. To add to the headache, Ajit Pawar also wants more MLAs from his camp in the ministry. The conflicts among the groups of Shinde Sena and BJP have already started at local level. This has to be handled properly by BJP and how Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tackles the complications will be interesting to be seen. Everybody in State is curious to know the final outcome of the cabinet expansion that may take place after the monsoon session.

Adv Wanjari stakes claim for LoP

Adv Abhijeet Wanjari, who is representing Graduate’s constituency from Congress has staked claim for the post of Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Maharashtra State Legislative Council. Wanjari, in a letter to General Secretary of All India Congress Committee (AICC) and in-charge of Maharashtra H K Patil, stated that he created history by registering victory in Graduate’s constituency, a stronghold of Bharatiya Janata Party. During the Maha Vikas Aghadi Government, none from Teli community was included in the cabinet. Teli community (OBC) is one of the biggest in Vidarbha as well as in rest of Maharashtra. In contrast, the community is given due importance in BJP at various levels. It is evident from the fact that BJP has made Chandrashekhar Bawankule State President.

Because of split in Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party, the Congress has become single largest party in the legislative council in opposition. Considering this aspect, the post of Leader of Opposition has to be given to congress party, pointed out Adv Wanjari. “I am a good orator and during my tenure as MLC, I had taken part in debates in the House for over 125 times in a short span of 2.5 years,” Adv Wanjari said.