Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday held the sixth Cabinet meeting since they took the oath of office on June 30. (Express photo/File)
Earlier on Wednesday, Shinde and Fadnavis held the sixth Cabinet meeting since they took the oath of office on June 30. The CM was scheduled to fly to Delhi along with Fadnavis in the evening but the visit was cancelled. It was speculated that the two would meet the BJP central leadership to take a call on the Cabinet expansion.
BJP insiders said a tussle over portfolio distribution, internal jostling for key ministries, and a delay in approval from the party’s central leadership had delayed the process. More than accommodating the camp of Shiv Sena rebels led by Shinde, the BJP is concentrating on regional equations to decide on the names of ministers as it is vital for the party’s preparation for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. For the BJP, party functionaries said, the priority is top ministries such as Home, Finance and Revenue as well as those concerned with masses and specific groups such as Tribal Welfare, Social Justice, Women and Child Welfare, and School Education.
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.
For Shinde, it is important to accommodate all the bigwigs who supported him in his rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray as the battle for the control of the Shiv Sena hangs in balance in court and the CM has to find space for the personal ambitions of his backers. At present, the group neither has clarity about whether it will fight the next elections on the Shiv Sena symbol nor does it have a strategy about its future.
But it remains to be seen how the two sides 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 big names 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 incumbent CM also has to contend with the aspirations of Sanjay Rathod, the forest minister in the Uddhav Thackeray government who had to resign over a case of a woman’s suicide. Shinde may also have to accommodate his key aide and the Sena rebels’ Assembly chief whip Bharat Gogawale from Mahad in Raigad district. In addition, Sanjay Shirsat from Aurangabad district is also looking to bag a ministerial position.
With the Cabinet expansion not having taken place yet and uncertainty over who will become guardian ministers, an administrative reshuffle too has been kept on hold. At the moment, only the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) has been set up following the appointment of Additional Chief Secretary Bhushan Gagrani to the office. IAS officer Shrikar Pardeshi has been appointed the secretary in Fadnavis’ office. Apart from these two appointments, there have been some minor administrative reshuffles at the district level, with the government moving around Collectors and municipal commissioners.
Leader of the Opposition Ajit Pawar, who earlier this week criticised the government saying the delay in Cabinet expansion was hampering flood relief operations, again hit out at the government. “It seems both (Shinde and Fadnavis) think that they themselves are good to run the government. They won’t move until they get the green signal from Delhi.”
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
5 min read
