A minister said that a reshuffle was also likely in the Modi government after the results of the ongoing state assembly polls.
After breaking new ground in the Maharashtra civic polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to shuffle its pack in the state with a shake-up likely in the cabinet. This will see some ministers being dropped and new faces being inducted.
A senior BJP leader told DNA that the reshuffle would see around five sitting ministers being dropped from the Devendra Fadnavis-led dispensation and new faces being inducted in their place. “In addition, we may induct around four new ministers,” he said, adding that this was likely to be done after the Budget Session of the state legislature which will begin in March.
The results have also cemented Fadnavis’ place at the helm of affairs.
The minister said that the changes in the cabinet would be done considering the ability of these ministers and the new inductees to perform during the slog overs before the Lok Sabha and state elections to be held in mid and late 2019, respectively. The results of the local self-government body elections may also be reflected in the choices of new inductees and ministers who will be dropped.
The BJP may also choose ministerial nominees from regions like Eastern Vidarbha, where the BJP has a strong base, but has marginal representation in the state cabinet.
At present, the BJP and Shiv Sena have 38 ministers in the state government, including 23 with cabinet rank and 15 ministers of state. The Shiv Sena has 12 ministers, including five cabinet ministers.
“The run up to the 2019 elections will start a year earlier. We will have to complete work on flagship schemes like major irrigation projects and dams before March 2019,” the minister said, adding that the party would hence need to choose task-masters who could get work done.
“Just victory in the local body polls in their constituencies and districts may not ensure the continuation for some ministers in the cabinet with performance being the main criteria. In districts and urban centres where the party has won, our responsibility has increased with BJP governments being in power at the Centre and in Maharashtra,” the minister opined, adding that a reshuffle was also likely in the Modi government after the results of the ongoing state assembly polls.
“If the Shiv Sena decides to exit the government, the BJP will get to accommodate more legislators in place of their ministers,” he said. However, he hastened to add that there was little chance of the Sena taking the extreme step in the immediate future. He noted that the Shiv Sena could continue to stay in the government and continue to oppose the BJP.
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 "Maharashtra cabinet shuffle")
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