Fadnavis rejigs Cabinet with induction of 10 ministers

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray skips swearing in function

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday expanded his council of ministers with the induction of 10 legislators in an exercise aimed at tightening his grip over the party and also pleasing BJP allies comprising Shiv Sena (SS), Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) and Rashtriya Samaj Party (RSP).  

At a simple ceremony held at the Central Hall of the Maharashtra Legislature, the state Governor C Vidyasagar Rao administered oath of office and secrecy.  Fadnavis did not exclude any minister ahead of the monsoon session of the state legislature beginning July 18.

The list of BJP legislators, who were sworn in as Cabinet ministers, include Pandurang Phundkar (legislator from Buldhana), Ram Shinde (Karjat Jamkhed), Jaikumar Rawal (Sindakhed), Sambhaji Patil Nilangekar (Nilanga), Subhash Deshmukh (Solapur south), while RSP founder Mahadev Jankar (legislative council) was also made a Cabinet minister.

Shinde, who was minister of state for home, was elevated to the Cabinet rank. Incidentally, Shinde and Jankar belong to the Dhangar community which has been quite aggressive in demanding reservation in the state.

Those inducted as ministers of state include Shiv Sena legislators Arjun Khotkar (Jalna), Gulabrao Patil (Jalgaon rural), BJP legislators Ravindra Chavan (Dombivli), Madan Yeravar (Yavatmal) and SSS leader Sadabhu Khot (who is a member of the legislative council from Sangli district).

Incidentally, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, who gave in and agreed to induct party legislators in today's Cabinet expansion after Fadnavis assured allocation of home department for minister of state, skipped the swearing in function. With Friday’s expansion the strength of council of ministers increased to 39 from 29.