The Shiv Sena’s Anant Geete assumed office as Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises on Wednesday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to and placated party head Uddhav Thackeray.
The Shiv Sena had made it known that the party was unhappy with the Ministry allocated, and Mr. Geete refused to take charge on Tuesday.
However, on assuming office, Mr. Geete tried to downplay reports of friction between the Sena and the BJP. He denied being unhappy with the choice of Ministry, but mentioned that the party was looking at a portfolio that would allow it more interaction with the masses.
He said Mr. Thackeray discussed this issue with Mr. Modi in the morning and was assured that in the event of a Cabinet reshuffle, the Sena would be given a “good ministry”. “Since the party I come from, Shiv Sena, is connected to the people, party chief Uddhav Thackeray expected me to be given a ministry which is connected to the people,” Mr. Geete said on assuming charge.
The Sena claims that an offer was made to it that a more significant portfolio and more berths in the Cabinet would be made to the party during the forthcoming expansion. “We felt the Heavy Industries portfolio was not a significant one. We have been told that an additional portfolio will be allocated to us and we will also be given more Cabinet berths during the expansion,” said party spokesperson and Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Anil Desai.
Senior Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi too said it was “natural” for the party to be “dissatisfied”. “We were hoping for a portfolio which connects to the people. With 18 MPs, we were expecting at least two Cabinet berths,” he said.
The Sena was expecting the Power Ministry which it had been allocated in the earlier National Democratic Alliance government. They were also hoping for at least two Cabinet berths and at least one Minister of State slot.
During the earlier NDA regime, the Shiv Sena had 15 MPs but it got two Cabinet berths, one MoS berth and also the post of Lok Sabha Speaker.
