Two days after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took charge, the rumblings of discontent within his team are already apparent.
Cabinet Minister Eknath Khadse who had earlier made a bid for the CM’s post told reporters on Sunday in Pandharpur, “The Bahujan community feels the CM should have been from their community.” Mr. Fadnavis is a Brahmin while Mr. Khadse belongs to the OBC Leva Patil community.
Mr. Khadse’s comments came despite clear attempts to pacify by giving him key portfolios on Sunday including Revenue, Agriculture and Excise. Senior leader Sudhir Mungantiwar who has been given the Finance and Planning portfolio is also reportedly unhappy. He was keen on Rural Development which has been given to Pankaja Munde.
Mr. Fadnavis has kept the high profile Home and Urban Development portfolios with himself. Cabinet Minister Vinod Tawde was pushing for the Home Ministry but the party high command was reportedly against it. Instead, he has been given School and Higher Education as well as Medical Education.
Ms Munde has got significant portfolios being the youngest in the team. Besides the Rural Development, she was also given the Water Resources Ministry. Prakash Mehta from the Gujarati community will be the new Industries and Mining Minister. Chandrakant Patil has got the significant Cooperatives and Public Works ministries. Tribal leader Vishnu Savra will be the Cabinet Minister for Tribal welfare.
Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena is pushing hard for ten ministries and the Deputy Chief Minister’s post. However, so far it has not received any assurances from the BJP. Speaking to reporters in Kolhapur, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said, “We are in no hurry to join the govt.”
