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BMC Elections 2017: After convincing results, BJP may go for Cabinet reshuffle

A senior BJP leader said the reshuffle would see around five sitting ministers being dropped from the Devendra Fadnavis-led dispensation and new faces being inducted in their place.

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CM Fadnavis with Ashish Shelar at the BJP office in Dadar on Thursday
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After breaking new ground in the Maharashtra civic polls, the BJP is set to shuffle its pack in the state, with a shake-up likely in the cabinet. This will see some ministers being dropped and new faces being inducted.

A senior BJP leader said the reshuffle would see around five sitting ministers being dropped from the Devendra Fadnavis-led dispensation and new faces being inducted in their place.

"We may induct about four new ministers," he said, adding that this was likely to be done after the budget session of the state legislature which will begin in March.

The results have also cemented Fadnavis' place at the helm of affairs. The minister said that the changes in the cabinet would take place considering the ability of these ministers and new inductees to perform during the slog overs before the Lok Sabha and state elections to be held in mid and late 2019 respectively. The results of the BMC elections may also be reflected in the choices of new inductees and ministers who will be dropped.

The BJP may also choose ministerial nominees from regions like Eastern Vidarbha where the BJP has a strong base but marginal representation in the state cabinet.

At present, the BJP and Sena have 38 ministers in the state government, including 23 with cabinet rank and 15 ministers of state. The Shiv Sena has 12 ministers, including five cabinet ministers.

"The run-up to the 2019 elections will start a year earlier. We will have to complete work on flagship schemes like major irrigation projects and dams before March 2019," he said, adding that the party will need to choose taskmasters who will get work done.

"A victory in the local body polls in their constituencies and districts may not ensure the continuation for some ministers in the cabinet, with performance being the main criteria. Our responsibility has increased with the BJP government being in power in the Centre and Maharashtra," the minister said, adding that a reshuffle was also likely in the Modi government after the results of the ongoing state assembly polls.

"If the Shiv Sena decides to exit the government, the BJP will get to accommodate more legislators in place of their ministers," he said, while hastening to add that there was little chance of the Sena taking the extreme step in the immediate future. He noted that the Shiv Sena could continue to stay in the government and oppose the BJP.

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