Thackeray Reviews State Ministers' Performance

In what appeared to be a preliminary exercise for a reshuffle of the Maharashtra cabinet, Shiv Sena supremo, Bal Thackeray, tonight reviewed the performance of 16 sena ministers.

The state chief minister, Manohar Joshi, Uddhav Thackeray, son of Sena chief and party spokesman, Subhash Desai were also present.

Thackeray is understood to have asked some questions to the ministers regarding their performance in last two-and-half years including the work done in their constituencies and activities initiated for public welfare.

Talking to reports prior to that start of his one-to-one meeting with the ministers, Thackeray said: "I am not fuly dissatisfied with the performance of the cabinet but it is necessary to carry out the review to inspire confidence in the public."

 

Thackeray said the government would come closer to the people through more schemes and programmes.

However, he did not disclose details about such programmes.

Due to code of conduct in force during various elections in the state many of the programmes could not be declared, he added.

The chief minister, Joshi said this was not for the first time the review the ministerial performance was carried out. "We have been constantly taking guidance from party supremo Thackeray", he added.

The reivew of performance of the ministers was not necessarily carried out with the reshuffle as an agenda, the chief minister said.

Joshi said a special session of assembly would be convened at midnight of August 14 to mark the golden jubilee of independence.

On August nine, the Quit India Day, a grand function has been organised at August Kranti Maidan to commemorate the occasion, Joshi said. The Prime Minister I K Gujral has been invited to be the chief guest onthe occasion, he said.

Meanwhile, the performance review meeting of the ministers which began at Sahyadri guest house here was expected to conclude by midnight.