Maharashtra CM strikes a balance between BJP’s old & new faces in portfolio allocation

By giving the important Revenue portfolio to state BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule, BJP has clearly sent a strong political message to its alliance partners Shiv Sena and NCP that it was not going to compromise its stated position on all key portfolios. Secondly, Bawankule getting Revenue also conveys a message to BJP cadre that “if you show patience and deliver, party rewards amply”.

The Revenue is among the top four important portfolios along with Home, Finance and Urban Development. By keeping Revenue, which was being sought by both Shiv Sena and NCP, BJP has reaffirmed its Number One position within the Mahayuti.

Unlike in the past Pankaja Munde has been given Environment and Climate Change, Animal Husbandry. In 2014, Munde held two important portfolios, Rural Development and Women and Child Development. Munde, who lost the Lok Sabha polls from Beed in 2024 elections, was made member of state legislative council. She is the only BJP MLC who has been made minister in the Fadnavis-led government.

In 2022, Revenue was held by senior leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil. Now, Vikhe-Patil has been made Minister for Water Resources (Godavari Krishna Valley Corporation). The Water Resources ministry has been bifurcated into two between Vikhe-Patil and Girish Mahajan. Mahajan has Water Resources (Vidarbha, Tapia and Konkan region) along with Disaster Management.

It somewhere shows the BJP had to make some adjustments to accommodate its key ministers. At the same time it also conveys that allegations against irrigation projects — which are Fadnavis’ flagship initiative to make Maharashtra drought-free in next five years — will be meticulously monitored.

Senior BJP minister Chandrakant Patil and Mangal Prabhat Lodha have retained the same portfolios namely Higher and Technical Education, Parliamentary Affairs and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, respectively.

Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar, who got Cabinet berth, has to be contented with Information Technology and Cultural Affairs. In Fadnavis’ first tenure Shelar was briefly made School Education Minister.

Also Jaikumar Rawal, who made it to Cabinet rank for the second time, got Marketing and Protocol. Interestingly, Shivendraraje Bhosale, who became minister for the first time, got Public Works (excluding Public Undertakings). Earlier, the important ministry was held by Ravindra Chavan who was dropped as BJP is likely to consider him for state party president role.

The other first term BJP minister Jaykumar Gore got Rural Development and Panchayati Raj. Whereas, Sanjay Sawakare got Textile, Nitesh Rane Fisheries and Ports, and Akash Phundkar Labour.