Maharashtra Cabinet Set to Expand, New Members from BJP, Shiv Sena

Arjun Khotkar and Gulabrao Patil are set to join the Maharashtra cabinet from Shiv Sena.

Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis. (Photo: ANI screengrab)

The Maharashtra cabinet is all set for an expansion on Friday, with 9-10 new inductees joining the ranks as ministers.

The swearing-in will take place at 9 am where six ministers from BJP, Arjun Khotkar and Gulabrao Patil from Shiv Sena and two others from smaller allies are likely to join the cabinet. Some portfolios of existing ministers are also likely to change.

The government should refrain from appointing tainted persons as Ministers. Already, half of the Cabinet members face serious allegations, but the Goverment is not ready to initiate a proper inquiry against them. 

Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, Leader of Opposition

The party also appealed to Fadnavis to appoint full-time Ministers for Home and Agriculture.

The Congress leader said keeping in view the “deteriorating” law and order situation and sorry condition of farmers, the state needs full-fledged Ministers for Home and Agriculture.

Fadnavis is expected to fill up portfolios rendered vacant after the resignation of senior Minister Eknath Khadse over corruption charges last month. The 10 portfolios handled by the veteran BJP leader are with Fadnavis, who also handles the Home Department.

“Gulabrao Patil’s induction will boost the morale of Shiv Sainiks in Jalgaon district, where BJP leader and former revenue minister Eknath Khadse has finished Shiv Sena as well as opposition NCP from the district by using the government machinery,” the close aid of Patil said requesting anonymity.

He added that the Sena will become stronger in the coming days.

“It would be a political strategy of Sena to dominate BJP from the district as well as Marathwada region,” said the Sena insider.

The Chief Minister had invited BJP’s probable candidates to meet him at ‘Varsha’ on Thursday night.

Jaykumar Rawal (Shinkheda, Dhule), Madan Yerawar (Yeotmal), Sambhaji Nilangekar (Nilanga, Latur), Subhash Deshmukh (Solapur South) along with BJP allies Sadabhau Khot of Swabhimani Paksha and Mahadev Jankar of Rashtriya Samaj Paksha attended the meeting.

Of the 30 ministers in Fadnavis’ cabinet, 20 are from the BJP and 10 from the ruling party’s ally, Shiv Sena.

(With inputs from PTI)