It’s been 10 days since the MahaYuti-led Maharashtra government was formed and the fresh ministerial expansion irked some MLAs after being ‘left out’, according to reports.

Among the upset leaders, Republican Party of India (A) leader Ramdas Athwale expressed disappointment for not getting a place in Fadnavis’ clan despite ‘performing well in Assembly elections’.

Meanwhile, according to media reports, Narendra Bhondekar, an MLA from Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, resigned from a party post after being upset over not being given any ministry.

“Some ministers have been dropped due to their performance in the Eknath Shinde-led Cabinet. As far as the induction of aspirants from Shiv Sena and NCP is concerned, it was not possible due to various reasons. They may get an opportunity in the future. Still, one ministerial post is kept vacant,” said Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar said they had to ‘give opportunities to others for 2.5 years’.

A total of 39 ministers took oath in Nagpur on Sunday. Among the newly inducted ministers, 19 are from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), nine are from the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and 11 are from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. 

At least 12 Cabinet ministers from the previous Eknath Shinde-led council of ministers in Maharashtra have not found ministerial berths in Cabinet expansion by CM Fadnavis.

Those who did not find place in the cabinet include Sudhir Mungantiwar, Ravindra Chavan, Vijaykumar Gavit and Suresh Khadse (BJP), Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil, Dharmaraobaba Atram, Anil Patil and Sanjay Bansode (NCP) and Tanaji Sawant, Abdul Sattar, and Deepak Kesarkar (Shiv Sena).

CM Fadnavis said that the portfolio distribution after cabinet expansion will take place in the next two days which will be done after the hectic negotiations among the MahaYuti partners including BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP.

(With inputs from syndicated feed)

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