BJP to review Fadnavis govt's performance

Non performers may be axed,reshuffle is on the cards ahead of monsoon session of state legislature in July

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s central leadership is evaluating the performance of the Devendra Fadnavis-led Cabinet in Maharashtra, which has completed six months in office.

The criteria for review include individual performance of ministries; notable initiatives taken so far; corruption charges if any; coordination with the party; and contribution for the party's growth, among others.

The move comes at a time when the BJP's junior partner Shiv Sena and opposition parties are targeting the Fadnavis government on the ‘flip-flop’ over assistance to farmers; farmers suicides; state police’s failure to arrest the killers of Communist Party of India leader Govind Pansare, etc.

Fadnavis, who holds the crucial home department, received flak after the March jail break in Nagpur and several incidents of crime against women. The demand for a full-time home minister for the state has been made.

A senior BJP leader, who is the party's national executive member, told Business Standard: “Yes, the central leadership is closely watching the performance the BJP-led government in various states including Maharashtra. Evaluation exercise, which is currently underway in Maharashtra, will help party to suggest necessary corrective measures and thereby further improve the image of Fadnavis-led government and the state BJP unit in general.”

He admitted that the BJP had won 122 seats and came to power, while taking a strong stand against corruption and alleged misappropriation of funds during the 15-year Congress-Nationalist Congress Party government in the state.

“There will be zero tolerance against corruption and fraud. Ministers will face stern action. Based on the evaluation, the party leadership will take a call on reshuffle of Fadnavis-led Cabinet,” the BJP leader noted.

He added that Fadnavis had indicated last week after his meeting with BJP allies that Cabinet expansion might take place ahead of the monsoon session of the state legislature in July.

Even though the state government has taken a decision to close 12 toll booths and exempt small vehicles from toll payment on 53 other booths, it faces the criticism of running away from its poll promise to make Maharashtra a toll-free state.

The government has also given a new deadline of the abolition of local body tax from August 1, but it is yet to put in place a strategy to make up for the loss of revenue.

On the positive side, the government has promulgated an ordinance for the Maharashtra Guarantee of Public Services Act to improve transparency and delivery of services to citizens from the government machinery. According to the ordinance, 160 services will be covered under the Act in the first phase. The state government, in a bid to pursue its Make in Maharashtra campaign and thereby attract more investments, reduced the number of approval from 75 to 26.