The CM is believed to have disclosed that the vacant ministerial berths in the state will be filled in October and non-performing ministers will be shown the door.
Eknath Khadse, who was forced to resign following allegations of a dubious land deal, and BJP city chief Ashish Shelar may soon be included in the cabinet. Ahead of next year's Lok Sabha elections, the Maharashtra cabinet is all set for expansion and reshuffle, DNA has learnt. The BJP high command in Delhi has given a go-ahead to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, said sources.
The CM is believed to have disclosed that the vacant ministerial berths in the state will be filled in October and non-performing ministers will be shown the door.
"CM Fadnavis recently had a meeting with his party top brass in Delhi. They have given the green signal for cabinet expansion and a reshuffle." The exercise could be carried out after Pitru Paksha – the period after Ganeshotsav and before Navrati which is considered inauspicious – or during Navratri, said sources.
"To review the performances of the ministers, a meeting has been called on September 24 at Sahyadri guest house where all the ministers will be asked to give Powerpoint presentations," said a source.
The ministers will each given 15 minutes to cite five big achievements of their ministries in last four years. "The review meeting will decide the fate of the ministers. Opportunities will be given to new faces and high performers will be promoted. This will be the last cabinet expansion and reshuffle," said source who is close to the chief minister.
Senior BJP leader Eknath Khadse, who had been forced to resign over allegations of land grab in Pune, is likely to be reinducted. While Fadnavis was not in favour of Khadse, despite a clean chit to him from retired high court justice Dinkar Zhoting, Union minister Nitin Gadkari is believed to have backed him.
"However, the final call will be taken by CM Fadnavis. The other possibility is giving an opportunity to BJP Mumbai president Ashish Shelar, who is close to party president Amit Shah. He had emerged as Man Friday for Shah," said the source. Shelar will likely be inducted as a minister. Under Shelar's leadership, the BJP did exceedingly well in the BMC elections.
The seat left vacant by the death of former agriculture minister Pandurang Phundkar will be also filled. "Besides, adequate representations will be given to the Shiv Sena. Most of the disgruntled faces were already accommodated with posts of cooperative board chairman and presidents of state agencies like Mhada and CIDCO," said the source.
Controversial housing minister Prakash Mehta may be shown the door, though it may turn out to be a tough call for the CM. Mehta very senior and is close to both Prime minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah. The source added, "He is also BJP's main Gujarati face in Mumbai."
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 "Ashish Shelar and Eknath Khadse")
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