MUMBAI: CM Devendra Fadnavis‘s cabinet expansion emphasised regional representation given that state govt received a clear mandate from across communities, pointed out professor Mrudul Nile of Mumbai University’s department of civics and politics. “It’s an all-encompassing cabinet with a good number of women ministers. It also did a good balancing act between the OBCs and Marathas,” he added.
The dropping of Fadnavis’s ‘trusted lieutenant’ Ravindra Chavan, who was in charge of the Konkan region for the assembly elections, came as a shock to many. “It is clear that Fadnavis did not have a free hand in the selection of candidates from BJP,” said sources. “Chandrakant Patil is a close aide of Union home minister Amit Shah and makes it to the cabinet irrespective of his performance. Pankaja Munde and Ashish Shelar being brought into the cabinet, and the inclusion of Nitesh Rane also indicates that the central leadership had a role to play. MLAs from Amravati and Washim, two crucial districts in Vidarbha, were not considered, while novices like Phundkar were.”
While Munde is not a favourite with the Centre either, social equations in Marathwada, the polarisation between the VJNT community and Marathas played a crucial role in her selection. To appease the Marathas, there is Shivendra Raje Bhosale, a descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and Patil. And by picking Ashok Uike, a tribal MLA from Yavatmal, BJP has looked beyond Nandurbar and Palghar, said sources.
Political analyst Abhay Deshpande said the inclusion of state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule and Shelar is a message to party workers that working hard for the party pays dividends. “Girish Mahajan, a confidant of Fadnavis who was tipped to be state party president, found a place in the cabinet. Rane’s inclusion is indicative that the party will use him to further its Hindutva agenda along with ensuring a face in Konkan, that is dominated by the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena,” he added.
The presence of ministers from every region in the cabinet will also prove useful for the coming local elections as they would be put in charge of winning these polls, said sources.
