Senior ministers seek to retain additional berths

A senior BJP functionary told The Indian Express, “Senior cabinet minister Eknath Khadse arrived in Delhi on Sunday night and spent Monday meeting several leaders and party functionaries.”

Highly placed sources said, “Khadse, who has several portfolios, knows if cabinet expansion takes place, he will have to forego some ministries.”

Khadse has the maximum portfolios in the government among all BJP and Shiv Sena ministers. Interestingly, there are demands from BJP and Sena for Agriculture. Khadse holds important portfolios including Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, Agriculture.

A close aide of Khadse said, “Being an experienced and seniormost minister in the government, Khadse would like to continue with the ministry of revenue and agriculture.”

Sources indicated Khadse would state his choice to retain his position. Khadse had often publicly expressed unhappiness for being ignored for the chief minister’s post.

Sources in the Sena said, “As per our agreement with BJP, we can accommodate only two junior ministers (minister of state rank). If Fadnavis agrees for a reshuffle, the department of agriculture would be under our consideration.

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray has taken a lot of interest in drought work.” Sena wants BJP to give them an important portfolio in the state or centre.

BJP sources said, “Downsizing of portfolios of any minister would be difficult as it would be met with resistance. But we will have to persuade the ministers to let go some portfolios to accommodate new ministers and unburden those who have more ministries.”

Education Minister Vinod Tawde holds several ministries, including Higher and Technical Education, Medical Education, and Pankaja Munde has Rural Development and additional charge of Women and Child Welfare.

Chandrakant Patil holds important ministries of Cooperation and Public Works Department. If BJP were to induct cabinet ministers it will have to give them portfolios held as additional charge with Khadse or other ministers.

Sources said ministers with only a couple of portfolios, who manage well will not be disturbed. This includes Sudhir Mungantiwar with Finance and Planning and Forests. The Fadnavis Cabinet has 20 BJP ministers and 10 Sena ministers.