The Ashok Chavan-led 38 member cabinet that was sworn in on Saturday mirrors an attempt within the Congress and the NCP to give the state government a facelift.
The Ashok Chavan-led 38 member cabinet that was sworn in on Saturday mirrors an attempt within the Congress and the NCP to give the state government a facelift. But it falls short of an overall makeover which is essential for effective administration of the state. The Congress inducted 18 ministers and the NCP, 20. The remaining five ministers — essentially belonging to the Congress quota — will be inducted in the next phase, during a cabinet expansion. All the ministers took the oath in Marathi.
At a glance, it was evident that the NCP president Sharad Pawar wanted to shock some, and surprise some others. Senior minister for finance Dilip Walse Patil, labour minister Nawab Mullik, health minister Rajendra Shingane and public works department (special project) minister Vimal Mundada were dropped from the cabinet. Vijaysinh Mohite Patil, who lost in the assembly elections from Pandharpur constituency, was also left out.
“Dilip Walse-Patil is being considered for the prime post of state legislature speaker, much against his own wishes,” said insiders. However, the NCP has no explanations as to why it felt compelled to retain the non-performing ministers, namely, Manohar Naik and Babanrao Panchpute, in the cabinet.
Chavan, who turned up for the oath-taking in a new black suit, had reasons to smile as he not only managed to get his supporters, namely, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Shivajirao Moghe, Subash Jhanak, Abdul Sattar, Padmakar Walvi and Ramesh Bagwe into the cabinet, but also succeeded in keeping his detractors under check: while Union industries minister Vilasrao Deshmukh failed to get his son Amit a cabinet berth, state senior minister Narayan Rane had lobbied for three of his loyalists and none were considered.
Despite its attempt to strike regional balance by taking into consideration caste and community factors, the Congress has caused heartburn among several leaders.
Former chief minister Shivajirao Nilengekar and senior leader Vilaskaka Patil were both left out. The cabinet structure reveals that the Congress has not given much consideration to either the very old leaders or to first-time MLAs. None of the elected members from the Rahul Gandhi brigade, namely, Yashomati Thakur, Prashant Thakur, Rajiv Satav and Nilesh Parvekar, made it to the cabinet.
Interestingly, not a single woman could make it to the cabinet rank. The NCP inducted Faujiya Khan (member of the legislature council), also belonging to a minority community, as a minister of state. The Congress inducted Varsha Gaikwad, a Dalit, as a minister of state.
Of the total 38 ministers (including the chief minister) the regional composition in the cabinet is as follows: Mumbai 4, Konkan 4, Western Maharashtra 12, Vidarbha 7, Marathwada 7, North Maharashtra 4. Yet, there are seven districts which find no representation. The chief minister will be under pressure to undertake some more corrective steps.
The new ministerial faces from the Congress are: Shivajirao Moghe, Rajendra Darda, Subash Jhanak, Padmakar Walvi, Ramesh Bagwe and Varsha Gaikwad. Similarly, the new ministers from the NCP are Laxman Dhobale, Jaydutt Kshirsagar, Bhaskar jadhav, Prakash Solanke, sachin Ahir, Faujiya Khan and Gulabrao Deokar.
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