Maharashtra cabinet expansion, Corporate India style

Mumbai: Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s birthday resolution is to fine tune, finalize the state cabinet expansion with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in earnest and secure the stamp of approval from the BJP high command in New Delhi.

With less than 2.5 years left before the next elections in Maharashtra--and close to a fortnight lost since its installation--the Shinde-Fadnavis government will induct around 35 cabinet colleagues notwithstanding the turbulence created by 10-odd Independent MLAs, who accompanied Shinde to Assam.

While Independents are being counselled to stay focused on their political priorities and development in their respective assembly constituencies without haggling for cabinet ministerial posts, lucrative chairmanships of corporations and statutory bodies are on offer to ensure the government formation is completed.

“The 6:4 ratio (between BJP and Shinde grouping) was proposed with the independent grouping Turn to P6

included within the Shinde faction, despite their demand to be considered as a separate formation for ministerial posts. Time is of essence here in particular, 

included within the Shinde faction, despite their demand to be considered as a separate formation for ministerial posts. Time is of essence here in particular,  as the next 2.5 years will witness time lapses due to election code of conduct freezing government activities during some local body elections or the other,” a person close to the issue explained.

The Shinde faction will also get a Union Minister from among the 12 rebel Sena MPs, even as every MP will be made responsible for ensuring the winnability of the five to six MLAs in her/his parliamentary constituency. Likewise, empowered MLAs will be given election targets like corporate entities to ensure development and political disruption to ensure progress with strict timelines, the this person added.

“If an MLA feels loss of entitlement over missing the housing ministry, she/he may be made head of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA). Similarly, if one faction is given the ministership of a department then, the other faction will have the Minister of State (MoS) in the department. A lot of hard work is being done to ensure demographics of caste (Tribal, SC, ST, Dalits factors) and winnability in 2024 are scrutinized for the 20:20 match that will ensue in the Lok Sabha as well as state assembly elections in Maharashtra,” the person added.

Past precedent (read: 2014-2019) was also factored in, and the crucial Cooperatives Department (with BJP) will see the appointment of a mature politician for which Radhakrisha Vikhe Patil, Harshvardhan Patil are being considered. Tribal development will also be crucial to ensure that the proliferation of Naxal and Maoist activity, as well as forced conversions are curbed in Maharashtra.

as the next 2.5 years will witness time lapses due to election code of conduct freezing government activities during some local body elections or the other,” a person close to the issue explained.

The Shinde faction will also get a Union Minister from among the 12 rebel Sena MPs, even as every MP will be made responsible for ensuring the winnability of the five to six MLAs in her/his parliamentary constituency. Likewise, empowered MLAs will be given election targets like corporate entities to ensure development and political disruption to ensure progress with strict timelines, the this person added.

“If an MLA feels loss of entitlement over missing the housing ministry, she/he may be made head of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA). Similarly, if one faction is given the ministership of a department then, the other faction will have the Minister of State (MoS) in the department. A lot of hard work is being done to ensure demographics of caste (Tribal, SC, ST, Dalits factors) and winnability in 2024 are scrutinized for the 20:20 match that will ensue in the Lok Sabha as well as state assembly elections in Maharashtra,” the person added.

Past precedent (read: 2014-2019) was also factored in, and the crucial Cooperatives Department (with BJP) will see the appointment of a mature politician for which Radhakrisha Vikhe Patil, Harshvardhan Patil are being considered. Tribal development will also be crucial to ensure that the proliferation of Naxal and Maoist activity, as well as forced conversions are curbed in Maharashtra.