Raring to go, CM-designate Devendra Fadnavis gets briefing from top officials

Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Dr Amitabh Rajan confirmed he had made a nearly two-hour-long presentation at the state guest house, Sahyadri, on 45 key subjects in the Home department, ranging from anti-corruption, women’s safety, terror/security, tribes, legislation, resources for projects and more. “It was not a wishlist or a presentation of slides,” said Dr Rajan, adding it was a wide-ranging discourse.

Top bureaucrats from other departments, including Industries, are expected to brief the new government later this week.

Government sources said Wednesday’s discussions with Fadnavis’s core team was in addition to the department-wise presentations already sought from secretaries. Every department has been asked to keep a presentation ready on progress on projects underway and those in the pipeline. At least one secretary said he had scanned the BJP’s pre-election Vision Document as well.

Sources said the young chief minister is keen to bring out a “Vision Document” for Maharashtra that could be released soon after the new ministers assume office.

A vision document at the start of their tenure is a pattern that BJP states appear to be following. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister unveiled a “Vision 2018” plan soon after returning to the state’s top job in December last year. The Rajasthan government is also said to be working on a similar vision statement.

An official from the Information Technology department said their presentation, which was submitted earlier, included some ideas from the Digital India programme of the NDA government.

A source in the Finance department also said their presentation included a detailed analysis of the state’s debt scenario. The UD department’s presentation focused on key infrastructure projects, including those under way as well as those proposed or stalled, those for Mumbai, with a special focus on a slew of projects in the city that can be kicked off early.

Sena’s plan out today

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena leadership, which met on Wednesday at party chief Uddhav Thackeray’s residence Matoshree in Mumbai, will announce the party’s future course of action on Thursday.

The top leaders of the party were unanimous on Sena joining the government led by its estranged ally BJP only if it got a third of the cabinet seats and important portfolios like Home. The BJP, however, is not keen on sharing vital departments with the Sena.

“We had a detailed discussion with senior party leaders. We will come out with our official stand on how we plan to go ahead by Thursday afternoon,” Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said.

The party leadership is also of the opinion of not allowing BJP to run roughshod over them.

Earlier in the day, top Sena leaders seemed to have briefed the party president on the mood of the cadre. ENS

Also set to take oath

Mumbai: A small team of six ministers is likely to be sworn in along with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai on Friday. Those who likely to take oath are Eknath Khadse, Vinod Tawde, Sudhir Mungantiwar, Vishnu Savara, Pankaja Munde and Suresh Khade.

Till late Wednesday, the discussions on portfolios were on after the central leadership of the party held a meeting with the aspirants to elicit their choices of portfolio. “The final decision will be taken after consultations with all party president Amit Shah,” said a BJP leader.

The CM may retain home, general administration and finance departments. Khadse is reportedly vying for home department. Mungantiwar has made it clear that he would prefer portfolios like rural development or revenue or home. During the poll campaign, Tawde had declared he would become the next home minister. ENS