Maharashtra crisis: Conceded CM’s chair but key portfolios to remain with BJP
BJP insiders concede that until the events played none of them were aware that Eknath Shinde would be the new chief minister of Maharashtra.
The BJP which has handed over Maharashtra’s chief ministership to Eknath Shinde, has ensured that certain portfolios remain with it. Devendra Fadnavis who was sworn in as the deputy chief minister under Shinde on Thursday, is expected to safeguard the party’s interests in the state and in the government.
BJP insiders concede that until the events played none of them were aware that Shinde would be the new CM. “It was a shock for all the state leaders. Until two days ago, we were expecting Fadnavis to be the CM, but the decision appears to have been changed by the central leadership after Thackeray made an appeal to the rebel MLAs and offered them to take over as CM. This was the turning point,” the leader said.
“The power-sharing formula and pact was finalized by union home minister Amit Shah who has been overseeing Shinde’s revolt from the start. The Eknath Shinde faction is likely to get 15 ministerial berths while the BJP is expected to get key portfolios like home, finance, agriculture, revenue, PWD, school education, environment among others. By keeping these portfolios BJP will want to ensure that development-related works are steered by it. In fact among the first decisions of the government is to keep the roll back Thackeray’s decision building the metro carshed at Aarey which is a clear indication of the BJP’s imprint.
Also Read | Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis face tough balancing act in role reversal
During the 2014 BJP-Sena government the junior partner was given 12 portfolios but none of them were the key ones which led to considerable resentment in the Shiv Sena. This time Eknath Shinde is in a better bargaining position, says a BJP leader.
The home department could be the bone of contention between the BJP and the Shinde camp. Fadnavis held the department for five years of his government and had complete command on the police force. It needs to be seen whether Shinde, who recently got CM Uddhav Thackeray to reverse the transfer of the certain senior police officers from Thane, will agree to give the home portfolio to BJP.
“Among Shinde’s 50 rebel MLAS, nine of them were ministers in the MVA government.
Other than Bacchu Kadu who represents a small party, PRahar Jansshakti and Rajendra Patil Yedraokar who is an independent, there are six Sena ministers among the rebels. Shinde will have to accommodate all of them in his cabinet apart from inducting a few new faces to avoid discontent. This means he will have to get at least fifteen departments including ministers of state. Maharashtra cabinet has 43 berths including that of the CM. Unlike UDdhav Thackeray wh held no portfolio, Shinde is likely to keep the urban development department to himself,” said another BJP leader
The leader said that after the floor test and election of the speaker of the lower house, both Shinde and Fadnavis are expected to meet the BJP’S top leadership in Delhi later next week to hammer out the shape and size of the cabinet. “Most of the decisions related to ‘the operation’ were taken by Delhi-based party leaders. Even the power-sharing pact will be finalized by the leaders in consultation with Fadnavis”, he said.
Apart from Fadnavis, Chandrakant Patil, Girish Mahajan, Ashish Shelar, Pravin Darekar, Sanjay Kute, are among those from the BJP who are likely to be made ministers.
BJP and Shinde camp are expected to woo some of their leaders with assurance of their appointments on government-run statutory boards and corporations, they are also expected to be given assurance of their nomination to the legislative council where more than 13 seats are vacant. Leaders from BJP as well as the Shinde camps are aware that there could be a groundswell of discontent among the rebels if they are not adequately rewarded.
Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Arvind Kejriwal News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.