Fadnavis in Delhi for approval of Modi, Shah on allocation of cabinet portfolios

Seven BJP members, including Fadnavis, to be sworn in today; none from Shiv Sena for now

Maharashtra chief minister designate Devendra Fadnavis met Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah in New Delhi on Thursday and sought his approval on the size of the state cabinet. They also discussed the issue of providing ministerial berths to BJP leaders and members of its allies, including Republican Party of India, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, Rashtriya Samaj Party and Shiv Sangram. Subsequently, Shah will get Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s approval in this regard.

Fadnavis also held a closed-door meeting with Union minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi to seek his blessings. Gadkari, whose name was pitched by over 40 legislators from Vidarbha, had clarified he was happy in New Delhi and never aspired for the CM’s chair.

BJP General Secretary Rajiv Pratap Rudy made it clear that only BJP members will be sworn in on Friday. As reported by Business Standard earlier, Rudy said Shiv Sena members would not get ministerial berths in Friday’s swearing-in function.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his cabinet colleagues, members of other political parties, Bollywood actors, sportsmen, representatives of industry and business and consul generals have been invited to the swearing-in ceremony.

BJP has indicated that initially Fadnavis, along with six party leaders, will be sworn in on Friday at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai. Others leaders who will be administered the oath by Governor C Vidyasagar Rao include Eknath Khadse, Sudhir Mungantiwar, Vinod Tawde, Pankaja Munde-Palwe, tribal leader Vishnu Sawra and one legislator from the scheduled caste category who could be either Sudhakar Bhalerao or Bhai Girkar.  There is a possibility that the BJP’s Muslim leader, Pasha Patel, may also be considered for a ministerial berth.

A BJP leader told Business Standard, “Modi and Shah have already signalled that leaders allegedly involved in scams, corruption cases and having serious criminal records will not be inducted into the ministry. Fadnavis and BJP core committee members, comprising Khadse, Mungantiwar, Tawde and Pankaja Munde-Palwe, have on Wednesday discussed the nature of the cabinet and allocation of portfolios. A final decision in this regard will be taken jointly by Modi and Shah.

Greetings and blessings for Fadnavis