Ten new faces likely to be inducted into Maharashtra Cabinet

MUMBAI: BJP is trying to accommodate leaders of some smaller parties in the Maharashtra Cabinet, which may to be expanded with 10 new members.

CM Devendra Fadnavis and the party’s state president Raosaheb Danve will be meeting party president Amit Shah to finalise the names of the new ministers.

BJP and Shiv Sena had fought the Lok Sabha elections in alliance with Raju Shetti’s Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS), Mahadev Jankar’s Rashtriya Samaj Paksha (RSP) and some other smaller entities

“Though this alliance did not last during the assembly elections in the state, the BJP now feels that taking Shetti and others along will help the party politically. None of these smaller parties have any seats in the state council, so while accommodating these parties in the cabinet, BJP will also have to provide the leaders seats in the state legislative council.

Shetti’s deputy Sadabhau Khot and Mahadev Jankar are likely to be inducted in the state cabinet. Republican Party of India had also been demanding a position in the state cabinet, but it may be given some senior positions in the state corporations, according to BJP leaders.

Though most senior BJP leaders agree that smaller parties should be accommodated in the cabinet, the tricky issue is what portfolios can be given to them. When Shiv Sena entered the government, some of the crucial portfolios, such as industries, were handed over to it.

Most leaders admit that this cannot be repeated again, so some lightweight portfolios that are currently with the Chief Minister may be offered to them.