Thackeray hints at cabinet reshuffle

MUMBAI, June 15: Before he went in to meet Shiv Sena ministers for a performance appraisal session today, Bal Thackeray took care to see th...

MUMBAI, June 15: Before he went in to meet Shiv Sena ministers for a performance appraisal session today, Bal Thackeray took care to see that nobody had any doubts about the seriousness of the exercise. He told waiting newspersons that a cabinet reshuffle was quite likely.

Thackeray, accompanied by son Uddhav, arrived at the state guest house Sahyadri8217; at about 7.45 pm. The chief minister Manohar Joshi, and Sena general secretary Subhash Desai, along with youth leader Raj Thackeray were there to welcome him.

His meeting with ministers is widely seen as a stock-taking exercise, which may yield some changes in the state cabinet. Thackeray said he wanted to give the state a good government8217; for the next three years.

While the chief minister has already declared that he would come out with a white paper on corruption in the state, today8217;s meeting is being seen as an occasion for some more plain-talking on the part of the Sena chief. Several Sena ministers have been involved in controversies and allegations of corruption have been dogging the cabinet. While at least one minister is unhappy with a non-functional8217; portfolio, the Sena chief is also believed to be in favour of some reshuffling.

Almost all the Sena ministers were in attendance several minutes before Thackeray8217;s arrival. While senior ministers Sudhir Joshi, Pramod Navalkar, Leeladhar Dake and Narayan Rane had come in quite early, the chief minister came in at 7.30 pm.

With the exception of agriculture minister and a relatively new incumbent in the cabinet RadhaKrishna Vikhe Patil, all ministers of cabinet and state rank were present. Thackeray also reiterated his stand that the Election Commission was exceeding its brief in ordering the Sena to conduct party polls.

Earlier, while chatting with reporters, the CM said the White Paper on corruption could be expected by the monsoon session which begins on July 7. He said the process of preparing the White Paper had started. He said the state assembly would also have a midnight session on August 14-15 to mark 50 years of the country8217;s Independence. He said the Prime Minister I K Gujral had agreed to preside over a function on August 9, at the August Kranti Maidan, which will also be part of the golden jubilee celebrations to be organised by the state govt.