Shiv Sena sulks over poor representation in Modi cabinet

The ruling NDA's second largest constituent, the Shiv Sena is upset over the poor representation it got in the new Narendra Modi government, as well as the portfolio for the party representative.

The Sena secured only one berth with Anant Geete -- its six-time MP from Raigad in Konkan -- inducted as cabinet minister. He was given the heavy industries portfolio, which was another point of disappointment for the party, said party sources.

As per reports, a peeved Geete did not take charge of his ministry, though all others, including Modi and his cabinet ministers got down to work Tuesday.

Sena president Uddhav Thackeray met Geete and other supporting parties to discuss the issue, especially as even another NDA constituent, the Republican Party of India of Ramdas Athawale, failed to get a cabinet berth despite intense lobbying in the past few days.

Shiv Sena has 18 MPs in the Lok Sabha, making it the second largest NDA constituent after the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Since over a week, it was hopeful of at least four-five of its MPs securing a cabinet berth, besides a few gubernatorial posts.

In the NDA government headed by prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee from 1999, the Sena had three cabinet ministers with plum portfolios, though it had fewer MPs compared to 2014.

At one point of time in 2002, it had even managed to bag the post of Lok Sabha speaker, for senior leader Manohar Joshi.