MUMBAI: Over two months after the Shinde-Fadnavis government allocated portfolios to ministers with a promise given to many MLAs that an expansion will take place soon, sources in CM Eknath Shinde’s faction said the expansion has been deferred for now and is unlikely to take place anytime soon. But in a bid to pacify legislators, especially those from CM Eknath Shinde’s faction, the state government may make appointments on state-run boards and corporations. Some of the new appointees may also be given ministerial rank.
After more than 40 days after he was sworn in as chief minister of Maharashtra, Shinde had on August 9 announced portfolio allocation for his new cabinet. Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari had administered the oath of office to 18 MLAs, nine each from the Shinde camp and the BJP. While all 18 were cabinet ministers, no ministers of state (MoS) or junior ministers have been sworn in yet.
A source said, “The cabinet expansion is most likely deferred. It was supposed to happen, but a consensus could not be reached on who would be inducted. We have 40 MLAs and only 9 have been inducted so far. Another 32 are waiting, and at least 14 of them are claiming a ministerial berth. Apart from them, there are independents and smaller parties who are with us and will have to be accommodated. It is unlikely an expansion will take place before the winter session of the state legislature, so appointments on state-run boards may be opened up.” There are 79 state-run corporations and boards.
Bachchu Kadu, MLA from Achalpur and leader of the Prahar Janshakti Party, has repeatedly said that CM Shinde had promised him that he would be made a minister and that the next round of cabinet expansion was likely to happen soon.
Kadu said, “The expansion will happen, but we can’t say when. It is difficult to say anything about it. 15-20 ministers have to be inducted, so it’s difficult. I have the right, and I will be in the council of ministers. But even if I am not, Bachchu Kadu is Bachchu Kadu. I have told them that a separate department must be created for welfare of differently abled and I should be made its first minister.” A four-time MLA, Kadu was minister of state for water resources and woman and child development and Backward Classes welfare in the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.
Kadu is among the 10 independents and MLAs from smaller parties that have backed CM Shinde’s camp. None of the independent MLAs or those from smaller parties were inducted into the cabinet in August.