Pune gets represention in Union Cabinet after two decades

PUNE: After a gap of almost two decades, Pune has been represented in the Union Cabinet by BJP's Prakash Jawadekar, who has been sworn-in as Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and Environment.

Commonwealth Games (CWG) scam accused Suresh Kalmadi, who was a Railway minister in the Narasimha Rao-led Congress government in 1995-96, was the city's last representative in the Union Cabinet.

Jawadekar who assumed a greater role in national politics after the death of Pramod Mahajan, by going on to become Rajya Sabha MP and BJP spokesman, is seen as being rewarded with a ministerial berth for his ground work in shaping alliances with regional parties in Andhra Pradesh, where he held charge of the party's affairs.

Central ministers who have represented Pune in the past include R K Khadilkar, V N Gadgil, Mohan Dharia and Suresh Kalmadi.

Pune's BJP MP Anil Shirole said Jawadekar's inclusion in the Union Cabinet would help solve various developmental issues facing the city, including lack of civic amenities for its population of five million.