Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan with Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis during the swearing-in ceremony of President Droupadi Murmu, in the Central Hall of Parliament, in New Delhi, July 25, 2022. (PTI)
The Cabinet expansion, however, is expected to take place this week as the state Assembly’s Monsoon session is likely to be held in the first week of August and the Opposition is using the current situation to accuse the Maharashtra government of hampering relief operations in areas of the state which affected by incessant rains. According to insiders, both Shinde and Fadnavais were expected to meet the BJP central leadership in New Delhi on Monday. The two arrived in the national Capital to attend the swearing-in ceremony of President Droupadi Murmu.
It remains to be seen how the BJP and Shinde accommodate the high number of aspirants in the Council of Ministers that can have a maximum of 43 ministers, including the CM. In the rebel Shiv Sena camp, excluding Shinde, there are eight former ministers — four Cabinet ministers and four ministers of state (MoS) — from the previous Uddhav Thackeray-led administration. According to insiders in the Shinde camp, former MoS and Independent MLA Bachchu Kadu has been promised a Cabinet berth. The Shinde camp also has bigwigs such as Tanaji Sawant from Osmanabad district and Deepak Kesarkar from Sindhudurg. Both of them were ministers in the BJP-Shiv Sena government that was in power from 2014 to 2019.
The BJP leadership too has to accommodate several top leaders, including senior MLAs and ministers in the previous BJP-led government in the state. According to party insiders, several such leaders have been camping in Delhi to lobby for a Cabinet berth and important portfolios. While uncertainty remains over whether Fadnavis will get the home or finance portfolio, BJP functionaries said senior leaders and former ministers such as state BJP chief Chandrakant Patil, Sudhir Mungantiwar, Ashish Shelar, Sanjay Kute, and Pravin Darekar were expected to get charge of important ministries.
But, sensing the uncertainty among his party colleagues, Fadnavis on Saturday advised them during a BJP executive committee meeting that they should exercise restraint and even hinted that all hopefuls might not get accommodated in the Cabinet expansion.
“The Cabinet expansion will take place two to three days prior to the Monsoon session of the legislature, which could be held in the first week of August,” said a senior BJP leader.
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A former minister in the Shinde camp said they had not yet heard from the CM about the date of the swearing-in ceremony. “We expect everyone will be taken care of as promised. The expansion of Cabinet is being discussed and it will happen at the right moment,” he said.
But the pending expansion of the council of ministers has left the government open to attacks from the Opposition. On Monday, Leader of the Opposition Ajit Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party said the political uncertainty was severely hurting relief and rescue work in places that have suffered heavy losses because of floods.
“Since the Cabinet expansion has not taken place, the guardian ministers of respective districts are not available and the entire government machinery is working leaderless, harming the relief operations,” Pawar wrote in a letter to Shinde and Fadnavis. He demanded that the Monsoon session, which has been postponed indefinitely due to political developments in the state, be convened from August 1.
Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues.
Expertise
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai.
Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands').
Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including:
State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana).
Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides).
Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits.
Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness
Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects.
Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards.
Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra.
He tweets @alokdesh ... Read More
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