The much-anticipated third expansion of the Maharashtra Cabinet took place on Sunday, with eight Cabinet and five Ministers of State (MoS) sworn in. The Assembly polls are set to be held within the next four months.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “We have elected a new team, considering certain criteria such as regional balance and performance. We have given opportunity to new faces, and no minister from the previous team has been removed over allegations of corruption or non-performance.”
Of the 13, eight are from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), two from the Shiv Sena and one from the Republican Party of India (Athawale).
As the new ministers were sworn in, six others submitted their resignations to Mr. Fadnavis, including three Cabinet ministers: Housing Minister Prakash Mehta, Social Justice Minister Rajkumar Badole and Tribal Welfare Minister Vishnu Savra. The three Ministers of State who resigned are Dilip Kamble, MoS for Social Justice and Special Assistance, Relief and Rehabilitation, Minority Welfare; Pravin Pote, MoS for Industries, Mining, Environment and Public Works Department; and Raje Ambreeshrao Atram, MoS for Tribal Welfare.
Mr. Fadnavis is the first Maharashtra Chief Minister to have inducted two Leaders of Opposition (LoP) in his Cabinet. Former Congressman and LoP in the Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil was the first to be sworn in to the Cabinet on Sunday. In the second expansion, Shiv Sena leader and former LoP Eknath Shinde had been inducted into the Cabinet after the Sena decided to support the government.
After taking oath as minister, Mr. Vikhe-Patil said he performed his duties as LoP with due diligence and honesty, and will do the same with the duties bestowed upon him by Mr. Fadnavis. “Constructive work for society can be done only after joining the government,” he said. When asked about the allegations of corruption he had levelled against Mr. Fadnavis, he said inquiries were ordered after his allegations, and will continue.
While Mr. Vikhe-Patil, who was sworn in from the BJP’s quota, former Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Jaydutta Kshirsagar was inducted as a cabinet minister from the Sena. Mr. Kshirsagar, who quit the NCP during the Lok Sabha election campaign, was the minister of Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) in the Congress-NCP government from 2009-14.
The Sena’s second pick, first-time MLC Tanaji Savant, was a surprise entrant in the Cabinet.
BJP Mumbai chief Ashish Shelar was also inducted as Cabinet minister. Mr. Shelar is a former president of the Mumbai Cricket Association, and was rewarded for his contribution to the party’s growth in Mumbai. The BJP increased its tally in the Brihanmumbai Muncipal Corporation from 33 to 83 in the 2017 civic polls.
The other Cabinet ministers sworn in include Suresh Khade from Sangli district, where the party is aiming to consolidate its base during the Assembly polls. Sanjay Kute, Dr. Anil Bonde and Ashok Uike from Vidarbha’s Buldhana, Amaravati and Yavatmal districts respectively have been given a Cabinet portfolio for the first time.
Those inducted as Ministers of State include RPI leader Avinash Mahatekar; BJP MLA from Charkop Yogesh Sagar; BJP MLA from Maval Sanjay alias Bala Bhegade; BJP MLA from Aurangabad Atul Save; and Parinay Fuke, BJP MLC and a close confidant of Mr. Fadnavis.
